<p><<so for="" the="" rest="" of="" us,="" admissions="" is="" much="" less="" a="" sure="" thing="" than="" it="" kid="" with="" major="" hook.="">></so></p>
<p>You're absolutely right there. But there are enough great colleges around for the bright and ambitious unhooked to end up somewhere challenging, worthwhile, and exciting--even if it's not their first choice or Ivy. So if you are part of "the rest of us", now is the time to start getting used to the facts of life in the real world-but no need to despair--there's really a tremendous range of places to get an outstanding education in the USA.</p>