Sorry if this is like a pity thread but I just need some closure and don’t know where else to find it. This year I was rejected by a shitstorm of schools. I only got into penn state and pitt. My whole life I’ve dreamed of going to a top school and worked towards this dream. I have a 32 on my act, a 4.0, really great EC’s with varsity sports and leadership in clubs, spent the summers doing research at a med school, took 11 APs. Also, I’m a first gen student with a single father which I feel like is kinda a hook. I can’t figure out where I went wrong that I was rejected by 8 places. I was waitlisted at Emory and Berkeley but the first wave of berkeley students heard back today and I was not part of that group and I’m losing hope. I just wish colleges told me why they said no. The only thing I can think of is I had a rough start in BC calc this year and got a 76 but I worked super hard and got it to a 90. I just needed to adjust to a hard class and it would stink if that’s why they all said no. The only other thing is my act was a 29 on science and I applied as a science major, but the other sections were 30, 35, and 35 and everyone I ask says intended major doesn’t matter too much in arts and sciences bc many people change. Do you guys think any of these are the reason why? I just feel a little hopeless and depressed now bc I worked towards this goal for so long and it feels like it shattered.