When ppl assume you'll get into top schools b/c they don't know how competitive it is

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm sure a lot of us have heard so-called encouraging comments of our perceived asssured success from people who really don't understand exactly how competitive the whole college admissions process is. </p>

<p>Parents, teachers, and family friends who go, "Oh you're definitely getting into Stanford (or any other top school)!! You have a 4.0!(or you got a 2300, you're president of 3 clubs, you got a 5 on that AP test, you got national merit, you're valedictorian, you have no life because you study all day long and get perfect grades so that must pay off somehow, etc)"</p>

<p>Sometimes I struggle to make these people understand that it's really not that easy. No one is guaranteed admission into the top schools regardless of stats, and thousands of my peers all across the nation have stats far more stellar than mine. </p>

<p>I want an easy and quick way to make these people realize the competition, not for their englightenment but for my own sake. Come April, I really don't want to hear people's contrived condolences if/when I don't get into all my dream schools ("why didn't harvard accept you? i don't get it, you're perfect!")</p>

<p>So I was thinking we could compile a list of brief stories of all those success-bound kids who failed (by fail I mean in their own perspective. being valedictorian and going to a state school on a full-ride b/c it's the only school you felt like applying to does not count as a "failure"). </p>

<p>I'm not trying to be pessimistic, just practical. It's so easy to get swept away by people's encouraging words, but in the end they mean nothing. I want to be practical and level-headed throughout the whole college admissions process, not swept away by over-confidence and arrogance from all those people who are convinced I'll make it.</p>

<p>Of course ultimately I DO hope that we're all successful, but it's important to keep in mind that nothing is set in stone until April 1st.</p>

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<p>I really hate that assumption. And when you say that you probably won't get in they just think you're being modest... sighs.</p>

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<p>Here are some stories I know. Unfortunately I don't really know the reasons behind them, but I can speculate:</p>

<p>1) Super math genius from our school last year (took AP Calc BC as a freshman I believe) with a 3.9 and 2350 SATs. His dream school was MIT, but he applied to 7 other colleges. He hates our local state school, but applied to it as a safety anyway. Unfortunately, our state school was the only college he was accepted to, every other place he applied to rejected him. (I think it might have to do with suspensions he received in the past)</p>

<p>2) Average HS student with a 3.8 and 2240 SAT applies only to our local public university. He doesn't want to leave home and feels he would be happy there. Plus he obviously has the stats to get in. Ends up getting rejected outright, and is now at community college I believe. (probably messed up his essays I'd guess).</p>

<p>So anyone have any other shocking or sensational stories of failure and defeat? Thanks for your replies=)</p>

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<p>I understand what you mean, but isn't it better than the opposite, though? How would you feel if people kept reminding you, "Just because you have a 4.0/2400/cured cancer doesn't mean you'll get into Harvard"?</p>

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<p>hate that ... lol</p>

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<p>i will read all the posts in a few minutes, but my 2 cents:</p>

<p>people don't automatically "assume" you'll get in if they jokingly say, "oh don't worry about! you're in!"...they are just giving you some confidence! I don't believe that anyone is a lock/automatic in, yet I tell people similar things that they'll get in...and i agree, what's the alternative? "No, you definitely have a very slim chance-nothing's a lock-don't get arrogant"</p>

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<p>You know what's even worse? When you start to believe them for a while. And then you log back onto College Confidential and realize that your 2290 is going to be waiting tables for Member X's 2350 in five years. Sigh.</p>

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<p>Parents, teachers, and family friends who go, "Oh you're definitely getting into Stanford (or any other top school)!! You have a 4.0!(or you got a 2300, you're president of 3 clubs, you got a 5 on that AP test, you got national merit, you're valedictorian, you have no life because you study all day long and get perfect grades so that must pay off somehow, etc)"</p>

<hr>

<p>My parents were more doubtful then my teachers and peers. But I noticed that if you have any of those stats above you could easily (very high chance) that you can get into UCLA or Berekely. That's if your in Cali...where if you are in the top 3-4% of your class you are will get at least one UC acceptance. (And I don't mean Merced)</p>

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<p>Even though it's more extreme outside CC, I've discovered that some of that goes on here as well. If you look at the "chance me" threads, you'll see that a lot of people get false hope, while when you look at the "Official Class of 2012 accept/rejected threads for xxxxxx school," you see that the scores required are much, much higher.</p>

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<p>Both of my sons have terrific stats; their guidance counselors and (unpaid) college counselors tell them they will get in everywhere-when oldest son failed to be accepted to his dream school he not only felt sad and disappointed, but also felt as if he had let his counselors down in some way-he had failed. It doesn't help as well when all the unsolicited mail from the top schools comes to our house-makes it seem very likely that acceptances are likely-we know better, ofcourse.</p>

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<p>Know a girl with great test scores, great grades, one of the "popular" kids at her HS (socially), thought she was a shoe in for an Ivy. Did not get in any (and like so many others did not come into school the day the decisions were out). Likely cause, social life at the expense of EC's.</p>

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<p>I agree. That happens to me all of the time. I don't think they understand. They actually get mad when they find out I'm retaking my ACT (of 32). They think I should get into any school based on my gpa and scores. But, I guess that's what happens when you go to a school with an average ACT score of 19 and most can't even get into the state flagship (which I admit, is sort of hard: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor).</p>

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<p>dont you people have something better to do with your time then think of ways to tell people you didnt get into harvard you only got into yale. jesus christ do something with your lives</p>

14

<p>^Tell me about it.</p>

<p>Must be a slow week, how the hell is this a featured thread?</p>

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<p>I usually get kind of embarrassed when I tell people I'm applying to Yale EA (I only do when they specifically ask, usually I just say I'm applying "out of state.") I don't want to seem elitist, and going to Ivies is pretty much the epitome of that in the Midwest. Usually I follow up my list of schools by saying, "Yeah, I figure it's kind of like a lottery - I'll probably get into one of them, but admissions these days are so hard you never know. We'll see. I'm pretty sure I'll be happy anywhere I end up." Or something like that.</p>

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<p>Avoid telling them which colleges you applied to. That should take care of it.</p>

<p>But seriously, there is no way to get around it. You just have to put up with it, unless you feel like launching into a 10 minute speech every time you meet a person.</p>

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<p>Hannahmontana...I hate your name by the way...but I'm just wondering how a 3.8 and a 2240 makes a student "average?"</p>

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<p>S got a lot of this last year. We reminded people that almost 28,000 people with fabulous records applied to Harvard and only 1900 or so were accepted. It's sobering.</p>

<p>And only on CC is a 3.8 and a 2290 "average." :(</p>

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<p>i can relate...a friend of mine thinks i have the stuff to get into princeton...i laugh it off and she thinks i'm being modest...still love her tho but, i mean some ppl are just NOT informed about how competitive it is thesdays to get into a top school, ESPECIALLY one like PRINCETON</p>

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<p>It's even worse with some of my relatives are ivies legacy. It doesn't help but just add more pressure on me.</p>