<p>Before I begin, let me give you some context: I hadn't told anybody where I was applying, (and I'm not anywhere near to rich, which will come into play in a minute) but when the school released the information on the National Mert Semi-Finalists, my guidance counselor told everyone that I'm applying EA, so now the whole TOWN knows. Anyway, today I heard this in the cafeteria from "the smartest guy in my calculus class," and I quote, "I mean Harvard, like, only admits rich kids who can get in on their dad's money. I mean, like, look at Bush, how else could he have gotten in?" And I almost spewed my tacos all over the table. And the worst part is, everyone around him was like 'Oh, you are so right, you're so smart!' AND I live in West Texas, you think they might know where Bush went to school?!? Arg, shoot me in the face, I only wish this wait would end so the small town gossip will stop!</p>
<p>"I only wish this wait would end so the small town gossip will stop!" </p>
<p>Me too! Ahh...only a handful of people know and they either think, "Oh she's val she'll get in." or "ha, Harvard...she's an idiot." It's one extreme or the other...nothing in between. Even my guidance counselor just kinda stared at me when I told her like I was crazy...hmm</p>
<p>As for telling people, I don't think I'll have a problem telling people at my school if I get in because then i'll be able to prove that I am good enough to get in and I'm not just a silly dreamer...if that makes sense.</p>
<p>"I'll be able to prove that I am good enough to get in and I'm not just a silly dreamer"</p>
<p>That makes total sense! I'm our val too, and that is exactly how people react now and if I say anything, they'll be like "whatever, you know you're getting in," or else they say "Why Harvard? Texas is a huge state, there are plenty of great schools" as in they think I'm a snob. Oh well, good luck everybody!</p>
<p>Ok, my problem is that I went to the summer school and so everyone (including teachers and administration) keep saying I'm "a shoo-in to Harvard", no matter how much I try to explain to them that summer school gives me absolutely no advantage at all!</p>
<p>Plus, since one of my rec teachers told my class where I was applying (a whole slew of extremely pompous sounding colleges) strangers have been coming up to me and asking me where I'm applying. I mean, it's not that I care what other people think about me, but if and when I get rejected or even deferred, everyone will be asking about it and making me feel worse!</p>
<p>at my school, there are maybe 5-10 of us applying EA. it gets very, very, very, very, very intense sometimes.</p>
<p>example: when another girl who was applying also heard i was applying, she told someone (jokingly, i hope) that she would [injure] me if i got in and she didnt.</p>
<p>badger_badger: In fact, most H students hate telling people that they're going to H. It's called "Dropping the H Bomb," and the first thing most H students do is to create euphemisms to avoid having to do so.</p>
<p>I don't know why but I do feel as if I'm some sort of pompous and conceited kid every time I'm forced to tell people I EAed to H. It's as if I'm over estimating myself...
Oh gosh, I wonder how embarrassing and awkward it is going to be when I have to tell people I got deferred/rejected... I'm too thin-skinned.</p>
<p>Well, I intend to join our armed forces as a cadet or mid at Harvard and to serve upon receiving my commission few days after graduation. Possibly I will follow the steps of my friend's sister who will be commissioned an ensign next year (Harvard '07). I have frankly told anyone who asked where I applied. All my friends and acquaintances are wishing me best of luck with the upcoming Mid-December verdict and Ratzie. In return, I have "yet to obtain" for our upcoming party, one case load of champagne and five case loads of vodka for those of us who will get deferred or rejected (to get over grief with).</p>
<p>My kids were expected by others to apply to H and the other ivies, the thing is, we had absolutely no interest in doing so. We don't believe in following the herd and aren't too much of a label family. We believe the school helps shape the individual, not create the individual. A harvard education does not guarantee you'll be a better individual (only you do), be wealthy and mistake free in life. We live in a country where a majority of time we are being "sold" on what we should do lifestyle wise. Advice is rarely given to an individual for the individuals best interests. </p>
<p>It is actually possible to be smart and get an education elsewhere and have a great life. </p>
<p>That said, we did get some strange looks when we replied " we're not interested" when asked about the ivies. I'm not saying you can't achieve great things at Hvd and the other ivies, but you can achieve great things anywhere if your mindset is right. </p>
<p>We also had some grief about not going to Stanford. We went to their presentation and I have to say it was 3 hours of total boredom with a half hour of actual exciting stuff. The professors they had speak except for the last one were "me, me, me" people, not "you, you , you" people. I'm not interested in an educator who is all about themselves, I want ones who are interested in my kids.</p>
<p>I hate it when people say, "Oh you'll get in. You're smart." You don't know a thing. Seriously. And then when I don't get in, they'd be like, "Oh I thought that person was smart." The thing is, I've never ever told them or wanted them to think I am "smart."</p>
<p>I have random people asking me if I'm applying, I don't know who told them. The, "oh you're in for sure" comment gets me the most.</p>
<p>The worst thing is that there's no casual way to slip it in unnoticed. As soon as you're asked the age-old question "Where are you applying to college?"--you can rattle off a list of all the colleges in the world, yet "Harvard" will always stick out. </p>
<p>No other school seems to have the same sort of stigma....</p>
<p>Friend: "I think you'll definitely get accepted."</p>
<p>Me: "Haha. Well, thank you for your belief in me." </p>
<p>What else can you say to good friends? They usually wish me good luck and a lot of people just seem to be rooting for me. I keep a pretty low-key profile at school and I'm not the type to care about what other people think of me.</p>
<p>If you really hate that much to tell them that you are applying to Harvard, then don't. When people ask just name your safety and match schools and finish with "...and maybe a few other schools."</p>
<p>i told my teachers not to say anything and made it clear i wanted to keep a low profile. they've all been totally understanding. only some of my good friends know, and it does get bothersome when strangers ask if i applied.</p>
<p>dun dun dun! 10 more days...</p>
<p>I usually just say, "I'm applying to a few Ivies, Northeastern, BU, Brandeis, Binghamton."</p>
<p>That usually is detailed and vague enough to satisfy people's imaginations.</p>
<p>And my guidance counseler is obviously very young and green, because I got kind of upset when she told me I had a good chance... she's very sweet but doesn't have the concept of how difficult it is, or is just disgustingly optimistic.</p>
<p>And yeah, what's up with only Harvard having the stigma... people don't give me funny looks if I say "Columbia!" or even Yale to some degree. GODDAMN YOU HARVARD FOR ALL THOSE AWKWARD SILENCES.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>And yeah, what's up with only Harvard having the stigma...<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>My daughter says one of the great things about being at Harvard is that there <em>everybody</em> got in to Harvard, which leaves them free to talk about other things. Away from Cambridge, people always want to talk to her about Harvard.</p>
<p>Yea I'm sorry. I applied to Yale and people say the same thing like:</p>
<p>"Oh you're really smart, you'll get in."</p>
<p>well...ok...if only they knew how hard it was to get into HYP or any of the top tier schools. A lot of people assume that it's an automatic in just b/c you're smart, but as we all know that's not true and it's just the very minimal requirement.</p>
<p>But then again, what do you want them to say?</p>
<p>"Oh no. You suck. You're not getting in. haha."</p>
<p>it's not as bad for me because I have a very tight knit group of friends who all applied to some high ranking school early, like stanford, mit, or yale. we just tease each other about it, but mutually feel the fear.</p>
<p>well...at the same time, dont you have acquaintances or no-so-close friends who tell you that you're going to get in?</p>