I’ve been meaning to do this a while and I should probably be preparing for some of my tests but I’ve been thinking a lot lately and I kind of want to get this post out here. I’ve been thinking a lot about why many of us our on CC, how to get into a “top” college, if getting into a top college is really important and pretty much everything in general I’ve learned throughout this process. I know that when I read these threads the first thing I look at is where the OP got accepted to so I’ll get that part out of the way although I’m trying to avoid this to be a standard " I didn’t get in but its gonna be ok" thread. The gist of my bio is unhooked white male from the midwest with 33 ACT, 3.7 UW GPA, decent but not spectacular EC’s majoring in computer science. My results were:
Accepted: Safeties( decent scholarships at my state school where I plan to attend), UIUC(really surprised but sadly unaffordable)
Waitlist: Grinnell
Rejected: Brown, MIT, WashU
The process of admissions officially ended for me on Ivy day but I wasn’t expecting much. Since before Ivy day, I kind of did some reflecting. I’ve been on CC since my first semester of junior year and I feel like I learned a lot here but spent too much time here. I felt like I had become educated on the process while many other people I talked outside of CC didn’t seem to know as much about the process as I did(which is true to some extent). At the end of my results I felt disappointed, I had braced for rejection from a lot of places but there was some part deep down inside me that kept saying somehow I’ll be different and won’t get caught up in this. I was wrong. But I’m happy now and actually feel like I wouldn’t have the same mindset as I do know had I been accepted to an affordable reach.
My plan currently is to attend my state school next year and although I didn’t get any of their full ride scholarships, I’ll be going pretty cheap and with multiple offers from different programs inside the school. I’m absolutely ecstatic. This year has been rough for me on so many levels and sometimes it feels like things are just too unfair. It’ll be a rough and long adjustment for me but I’m ready and excited for it.
The truth of us as people in general, though, is we tend to push ourselves to believe what we want to believe. Of course, from my perspective going to a non-prestigious school is just as good as anywhere else but the truth is that’s not completely true. I don’t really know what exactly I want from a college yet but I know I’ll be missing out on some stuff. I won’t get to meet famous and super talented students everywhere I go. I won’t get all the super-amazing networking and research opportunities. I will, however, get to be a big fish in a smaller pond, stand out more to professors, be among the first to get the also great research and study opportunities at my state school while also getting to see “normal” people.
So, to get more to the point, my first piece of advice goes to those in the “reject boat.” I thought about why everyone feels so bad when they get rejected even though most people on this site know that the admissions are extremely competitive and often based on luck or any other random factors. I thought about how many of the students who applied told their friends and family and, like myself, deep down think they could be different. My advice is to accept the result and realize what goes behind it. The top schools don’t really owe anybody anything and they will always accept who they will believe will help make them look better even if it’s on factors that don’t equate to success. Another thing to look past is the reject letter, I think this factor is overlooked but what bothered me the most at first was the feeling I got from it. That same letter goes to everybody and is completely impersonal. The toughest applicant to reject to the applicant with a 20 ACT who wrote “lol” on every essay prompt got the same letter (ok nobody does that but you get the point). Don’t take these things personally. Top colleges will accept major d-bags, busts, and wildly imperfect people while any other college will accept future leaders, humanitarians, and innovators. Don’t base yourself on your school. That’s one positive thing said here on CC that can never be emphasized enough.
Another thing is worrying about getting into a top college. Avoid rankings when thinking about where to go. Think about where you will be happy and successful. Truthfully, many students at top schools may have done better elsewhere. Explore your options and don’t be afraid to try. Also, don’t spend time fretting about presenting yourself. This process is a guessing game for the average person so the best thing you can do is understand that you should try to be the best you can be and highlight your unique personality and idiosyncrasies. Be different, stand out, but don’t read a bunch of guides or “essays that worked.” The application can’t highlight everything and many very very talented and amazing students will get passed over. Just do your best in school and find something you love even if it won’t help you get into a good college. One thing I do a lot is pace and listen to music while pondering important topics like this. That’s not really a resume booster but it’s something I do intently that I think benefits me way more than being president of [insert college resume booster club here] that I don’t really care about.
Also, CC can be a great website but if you’re an upcoming undergrad student, then don’t come on here every day or every other day unless you enjoy giving advice. There are many great people but the population is very limited. Top schools are everything here but it becomes so much less important when you close your laptop. I look around at all the people and things I see everyday and realize “wow, look at all this that was done by people who didn’t go to blah blah top school”. You will be fine, don’t put the pressure of such a difficult process on your shoulders. Avoid the negativity, stress, and elitism that can often reside here.
Lastly, just use your opportunities well. Most of us are pretty well off here when you think about it. I saw a stat once that said an adult with $2200 in assets is in the top 50% of wealthiest people. At the end of the day, there’s a lot of people here on Earth (one reason why college is so competitive lol) and there’s no room to be full of despair and unhappiness.
Wow, this post got really long but I feel a lot better after posting it. I don’t plan to spend too much time on this site anymore but I’d like to check in on this thread and especially talk to any of you if you want to talk. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Congratulations to you to wherever you’re going. Be open minded, stay humble, work hard and take time to really think about the world around you rather than just feel it. I know it’s helped me.
