<p>I absolutely concur with rileydog - it’s a tough blow for a 17 or 18 y/o to absorb, and I feel that acknowledging the disappointment (maybe even wallowing in it for a day or two) is a good way to prepare to truly move on. And I’ve got the same hunch as oldfort - I think (and sincerely hope) that many schools will go to their waitlists this year, and that many disappointed CC posters will eventually wind up at their match/reach schools.</p>
<p>However, I don’t think I understand what rileydog and rofflez are saying about making sacrifices to excel, while less driven students had equal (or better) success this go-round. Rileydog, did your son’s classmate who took a less rigorous curriculum and had more time to enjoy high school life wind up accepted at the same 3 schools as your son? That sure seems counter-intuitive. Or am I mis-reading and was he accepted at his own three safeties?</p>
<p>If the student who challenged himself less was accepted at the same three schools, were these perhaps schools that admit less holistically - i.e., do they employ a formula that does not recognize a weighted GPA? Or, could this student possibly have filled a niche for the schools in question (maybe he’s that legendary oboist)? Might he be a legacy? Perhaps this kid really lucked out and was accepted at three schools that, for him, were reaches - but were safeties for your son, because of his superior record.</p>
<p>I’m wondering because I find this process confusing enough without having to accommodate the possibility that it really might not matter which students take rigorous courseloads and which don’t. In any event, those who do are much better prepared for success in college and grad school. So none of it was wasted effort (which may not provide much comfort now, I realize). This has been a tough year for many outstanding students. :(</p>