I know I just feel the pressure. I guess all you kids in here do too
Also, just a gentle reminder: this is just for an undergraduate degree. I’m sure many of us are planning to pursue some sort of masters education. When you’re asked where you went to college, you will most likely state your graduate school, not your undergrad. We’re so caught up in these first four years that we’ll go to the end of the world to be accepted; what really matters is HOW we use these four years, not WHERE we are during that time. If you go to an Ivy, slack each semester, and end up with a 3.0, then that admission did you no good. On the other hand, if, by some chance, we aren’t accepted come Thursday, and we go to a state school, get a 4.0 and amazing ec’s, we’ll be in a much more favorable position.
Just to put things into perspective, ahah. Undergraduate school isn’t the entire world. It’s like high school: what matters is that you take the resources given to you and use it to your advantage.
@schroscat Amen. I also had a story similar to yours to share. I hope they see us as humans, like you said. Those who manipulate or game the system are dishonest jerks who shouldn’t even be considered. The grim reality is, though, one of these offenders may take the spot of a hardworking applicant.
No matter what happens, we put our best foot forward. If the decisions are rejections, then screw them.
@mg29409 I went through the whole “screw them” when I was deferred from Harvard. I’m being honest here, my stats aren’t the best in the eyes of the CC Ivy Hawks. But to me, they were a great accomplishment. Here I am, scoring higher than my peers who spent thousands of dollars on private SAT tutoring, just with the help of a Kaplan course. (Granted, I barely paid attention–which is entirely my fault–but the stress of junior year distracted me from testing). After being deferred, I was first extremely upset; I realized a few days later that I shouldn’t hold this against myself. I’ve had less than favorable circumstances throughout my life, and I’ve come a far away. If an admissions counselor does not deem that “good enough” for the institution, then good day. Screw 'em. Become extremely successful and have them regret rejecting you.
@schroscat Question for you–I am assuming you want to pursue medicine since you applied to Tufts and Brown. I am, and have been frantically researching statistics. Many medical schools (especially Tufts Med http://medicine.tufts.edu/Education/MD-Programs/Doctor-of-Medicine/Class-Profile) release undergrad institutions where their students went. Then doesn’t it matter at that point where a student went for undergrad? Not once did I see the name of a state school on there (ex: UMass; I absolutely hate it, thank God I’m not going).
Thank the lord I’m at least going somewhere good next year. Where did you get in thus far, btw?
@anon9362 The stress is almost laughable. I have a friend whose mother is completely prepared to send him to Vanderbilt–she thinks that Vanderbilt is where he is going to spend the next (four) years of his life. Only thing is, he hasn’t yet told her that he was flat out rejected. If you have a supportive family/friends, you can be grateful.
@NovaCat Yikes… He has to face is mom sometime, no?
@mg29409 I would say that to some extent, going to a bigger-named school does have an advantage. Just look at current university statistics: going to an elite prep school (eventually) pays off to an extent. A lot of statistical factors are evaluated for a top-tier medical school. The thing is, especially now, state schools (at least in the SUNY system) are nearly impossible to be accepted into. For us, the entire game has changed for medical school. When a state school (again, I’m referring to SUNY) is having more and more competitive applicants, a medical school will have to shed the preconceived notion that “it’s just a state school.” I’m on the same boat as you; I spend weeks researching medical school statistics…but in the end, God knows what admissions will be like once we are juniors in college.
I’ve been accepted to Northeastern, BU, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Binghamton, Stonehill Honors, and Hofstra Honors. If I am rejected from the rest of the schools I have applied to, I will most likely attend Geneseo, as I have received a generous scholarship in addition to really great financial aid. And you?
@mg29409 Well yes but he’s clearly avoiding a confrontation out of fear of disappointment.
@schroscat God truly does know in the end, and I agree, state schools are different. SUNY, I assume, is well-regarded, where UMass is not, haha.
So far I got in BU, BC, and Holy Cross, and the safeties which I’m definitely crossing off the list. Got great FA from all 3, so it’s going to be a tough decision (unless Brown steps in–then I’m definitely going there.) Waitlisted at Northeastern, so don’t know how that happened lol. Rejected at Amherst, but I didn’t care much for it. Had I gotten in, it would have been more of a confidence booster for Brown.
Also, you say your stats are low for the ivies, yet you got into BU and NEU. Low 2000 SAT I’m guessing? (only throwing that out there since I got a 2080 haha.) Get your hopes up!
I truly hope to see you at Brown, Tufts, or BU :). Can’t miss out on genuine people like you.
@mg29409 Congrats on those acceptances! I got a pretty awesome FA package from BU…it’s still quite a lot of money to find per year. In all honesty, I didn’t know that the SUNYs were extremely well-regarded until I started the application process. Many this year were rejected/waitlisted because SO MANY top-tier students applied.
I scored a 2130 on the SAT (690CR, 740 M, 700 W). CC has definitely made me feel like utter crap about that. My school functions on a 100-point scale, so everything is so incredibly confusing for college admissions. My lowest point are my SAT IIs. I took some too late in the game or before I even took the course, and I regret that. Alas, I hope something shines through and overshadows that.
I hope the best for you as well! Maybe the both of us will find our way to Brown 
@schroscat Yup, that’s CC for ya! Many complaining about 2200+ scores wishing they did better. It’s only a score after all…
And thank you, you too! You have great options. I pray that admissions finds something in us that captivates them. Maybe the stories we tell will push us over the edge. SAT IIs don’t matter as much, as long as the applicant is serious in their courework (or so I’d like to think.) Good friend of mine from church got into Brown, and is currently attending. 6 APs Senior year and a 670 Math II.
The supplements matter a lot too. I’m so glad I spent time crafting them carefully (4 essays…jeez)
@mg29409 I think–hope, pray–admissions will say, “Hey, her SAT IIs are pretty eh, but she’s in 5 APs right now…so we’ll let that slide.”
I’m really proud of all I’ve sent to Tufts. My essays really showcased who I was, and my arts supplements–I would hope–showed that I’m much more than a science kid.
2 days left!
@schroscat Haha I think we’re the same person (besides the art supplements, I’m not in the slightest artistic). I’m taking 5 APs too and I really don’t want the effort we put in taking that many go to waste. I would be super pissed if it did.
I think you’ll get into Tufts. They are especially looking for creative and open-minded applicants who also work hard, so I’d like to think you fit their profile.
Anyways, good luck, and may the elephant lords and the sun (Brown’s symbol lmao?) lords be with you haha.
- Grueling. Tortuous. Days.
@mg29409 May the Jumbo be with you. (Haha, get it? The Jumbo? The Force?)
If you are rejected, I will convene an uproar.
(technically, less than 2. horrible. torturous. days. but who’s counting??)
Good luck to you!
Good luck to everyone on college decisions! I pray that it all works out in the end for all of us and that admissions took a chance on us. I’m waiting for 7 decisions on the 31st (5 Ivies, Tufts, NYU). Extremely nervous!
I love how supportive everyone is on college confidential. I feel like you guys are the only ones who understand me. No, I understand that I don’t have to go to a top 20 college, but people don’t understand all the pressure we’re put under to excel. A big part of it is fear that I’ll be seen as less and all my hard work won’t be accounted for.
Late afternoon has to be 3 pm right – considering decision release is historically 3 pm and afternoon formally starts around 12, 3 seems pretty “late” in the afternoon to me. Just hoping it’s not 5. I think we can all agree it cannot be later than 4 and will almost definitely be 3 pm, right?
@JDBoi78 i think it might be more like around 5. that’s when all the other schools are getting back to us…):
For Ed 2 (don’t remember Ed 1) they released at 3 pm EST and 12 pm PST