<p>Please make me feel better by letting me know I'm not the only one driving myself nuts here.</p>
<p>My D had above average SAT scores, a very good GPA and a bunch of EC's. She's done well enough that she is applying to 1 Ivy, even though it isnt her top choice. She has applied to 8 other schools, a nice mix of reaches, matches and safeties, and would be happy at any of them. However, I cannot help but thining "What if she doesn't get in anywhere?". I am making myself crazy and getting a sick feeling everytime I think about it.
For instance, she applied to Penn State, everyone tells her its a safety, though she looks at it as a match. On Tues, she checked her app status online, and it says that a decision has been made and it's in the mail. Now I am so worried that when it comes, what will happen if by some chance she's rejected. I know she's worried too, as are most applicants, but she does't discuss it, just puts it out of her mind.
Is this normal???
I am so hoping the letter comes today and she's in, so then we both can relax.</p>
<p>It sounds as if your D has done everything right (nice mix of reaches, matches and safeties; record competitive enough to consider an Ivy; app in early at good rolling admissions school). She'll probably find good news in the mailbox this afternoon or Saturday. And once the first acceptance is in, you'll feel a bit less angst for the remaining decisions. Why not pick the most distracting activity you can think of and pursue it until the mail truck rolls around? And let us know how she makes out!</p>
<p>Of course it's normal to worry about rejections. Everyone does that including valedictorians applying to definite safeties.
Follow frazzled's advice and know that you have lots of company in your angst.
And if she is rejected, there's plenty of time to apply elsewhere. The school year still is early and most colleges' app deadlines haven't passed.</p>
<p>The best thing about early or rolling admissions is the feedback you get on the actual application. With stats that put her in the running for an Ivy, then Penn State seems like a pretty safe bet. If for some reason, the outcome is not what you are hoping for, then you have the chance to take another look at the subjective pieces of the application -- essays, activities sheet, possibly recommendations -- and see if there is a weak spot. You then have time to rework things before the RD deadline of most schools. If, on the other hand, she's accepted, then you can relax and enjoy the wait until April.</p>
<p>In the unlikely event there is a rejection in the mail, there's still plenty of time to apply to a few more safeties (or super-safeties) for peace of mind.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the comments....
She will NOT apply to any more schools. She has 9, the last of the apps are due into her HS on Tues, and then she says she's DONE!!! I really don't think she needs any more safeties. I know deep down I'm worrying for nothing, but I worry just the same.</p>
<p>Yankeegirl, I relate. My S applied ED last year to a college that was a definite safety. I was consumed by angst. I was so worried, I made him send Part 1 of the application of his #2 school, spending $60 for piece of mind that if he was rejected ED, he'll have #2 school application started. This particular school wanted Part 1 and the fee before sending Part 2. </p>
<p>S not only was accepted ED, he was awarded a sizeable merit scholarship. After reading these forums, I think many parents become especially nervous. We've read too many horror stories. But as another poster said, it sounds like your D did everything right.</p>
<p>Plus I think that if Penn State has already made a decision, it's not going to be a rejection. If they were inclined that way, I think they would put her in a pile to be reviewed later. I'm sure she will have good news, but please post the outcome after she opens the acceptance letter.</p>
<p>Dcmom..will do.
All along, she has asked me to open her college mail and sort through it, getting rid of stuff I knew she would't be interested in. She then told me that when decision letters started coming, I should leave them for her to open..which of course I planned on doing anyway. Well, since there is no school tomorrow, she told me that she is going to a friends straight from school and won't be home until 10PM or so. My response....."If there is an envelope from PSU in the mailbox, you had better get your butt home after school". Of course I was kidding (Ok, I was semi-serious). Funny thing is, that we are visiting PSU this weekend, would be nice if she knew she was in when we got there. The other thing is that it isn't even her first choice..I'll be a total wreck when the time comes for that letter.</p>
<p>My S had a plan if he were rejected everywhere that made me feel better, apply to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Their deadline is May 1. I began secretly hoping for rejections, seeing myself at the beech front hotel on parents weekend...</p>
<p>I am going to agree with DCMOM- I think it is too early for the rejections to go out. So relax, think positive and enjoy the week-end at Penn State. It's a great place. My d got her first acceptance a few days ago from U. of Tampa. This is not her first choice as she is not even sure she wants to go to school in Florida, but she is so much more relaxed and said, "I guess I really will be going to college next year". So after the first acceptance rolls in, the whole college admission process is alot easier to deal with. We're traveling to George Mason this week-end for their open house. I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of last minute college visits this holiday week-end- so good luck to all and happy travels.</p>
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Well, since there is no school tomorrow, she told me that she is going to a friends straight from school and won't be home until 10PM or so. My response....."If there is an envelope from PSU in the mailbox, you had better get your butt home after school". Of course I was kidding (Ok, I was semi-serious).
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<p>There won't be any envelopes in the mailbox tomorrow!</p>
<p>(For the same reason that there's no school tomorrow. No mail on Veteran's Day.)</p>
<p>Too bad about more waiting. But I agree with a previous poster--the news is sure to be good news. A rolling-admissions school isn't going to reject a strong candidate this early. Early news is good news for strong candidates at rolling schools.</p>