What would you change?

<p>So all of us have gotten back our admissions decisions, and a lot of us got unexpected results, whether it be acceptances or rejections. If you had known the end results of your HS career prior to the beginning of this year, or even the beginning of freshman year, would you change anything? I know a lot of us would be saying they would have just had more fun, or some of us will say they would have signed up for more EC's, AP classes, etc. I know we should put what has already happened in the past, but I think something like this will help upcoming seniors and juniors put things into perspective and maybe help them reassess their priorities (and help some of us ticked seniors vent a little haha). </p>

<p>I'll go first:</p>

<p>I just got rejected/waitlisted from my 5 OOS schools and accepted into my two in-state schools, but I honestly wouldn't change a whole lot. I could have gotten into both of my in-state schools easily, but I'm not sure if I would have gotten as much scholarship money from the one I'm attending if I hadn't put myself through all what I have done. I maybe would have dropped a few AP courses this year (I have 7) and dual-enrolled instead so I could keep my valedictorian status. I also would have stopped with standardized testing after each of my first times. And I would have not been FCA captain this year, as I put myself into too many leadership positions (NHS pres, SGA, swim captain) and I let that club falter as a result. Overall, I just would have been a lot less neurotic about my whole high school career if I had known it would have been one of two in-state schools for me, rather than kill myself only to be turned down by the Ivies. I also wouldn't have applied to 10-15 national scholarship contests, save the AAA Travel Challenge.</p>

<p>Overall, as I look back on my HS career, I really did accomplish a lot to be proud of, but a lot of it was simply unnecessary. I'm not going to be able to remember a lot of these awards and other stuff I've done, and even if I do, who will ask ten years down the road?</p>