<p>I always hope students will embrace their school and the new teachers and classmates with the attitudes you are bringing to actually beginning your college years, Ecliptica.<br>
As a mental health professional there are simple ways to assess people...having a high opinion of others as well as of self is a bedrock lucky charm foundation skill in life...and that sounds like your attitude, and no doubt your teachers, coaches and friends will appreciate this! Another is that more difficult thing of how well do you deal with ambivalence? College searches really stress parents and students on this issue in life..it is a season of mixed feelings, mixed reviews, some wrong turns and closed doors, crushes and fears of rejections, and sometimes a total reevaluation of self as you try and try to get as accurate as possible and past the hype about a school. But it is a great "practice field" to enter with your son or daughter...to see the good (match) aspects of each school, and to be able to name the aspects of a school that are dissonant for you, but all in all to still hold the school in positive regard. I am happy I got to watch my S work through this as he will be launched in no time now. It was fun getting to know him better through the search...good memories, good stretch and he certainly grew to respect and revere the schools he applied to regardless of outcomes. You got nothing to lose and everything to gain when you emotionally invest in match schools even as you prepare to put your best effort into a reach application. Bluebayou also had a great point...merit aide is more likely at a match than at a Reach school, and this should be considered as well.</p>