Why the crap am I scared?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>to apply to ivies? i just talked a lot with my parents tonight and feel like crap. I feel as if I've done nothing, watching stats for chances threads. I feel like a failure. I know this sounds whiny and all that.</p>

<p>This is how i half feel right now. the other half just says "what's wrong with you? there's no harm in applying. besides, you can never figure out which colleges would ever want you, be it ivies or state schools."</p>

<p>I'm really confused at myself. anyone wish to help me out on this subject?</p>

2

<p>I think I know why you feel this way...there is a little voice in the back of your head saying "if I don't apply, then I'll never know".</p>

<p>Well, think about this: if you do apply, then you will know, and ONLY you have to know. I know in a lot of high schools, people are always asking, "Where are you applying? Are you applying to Stanford? Harvard? Yale? Columbia?" There is no reason why you have to tell them you're applying to an Ivy school if you don't want them to know. You don't even have to lie, you can just respond by saying, "Well, I am aiming for <em>insert your state school here, or whatever school you're intent on getting into</em>" Or, you can be completely open and say you're applying to an ivy, but are unsure how you'll do, and figure rejection is definitely possible.</p>

<p>That being said...don't degrade yourself. Just because somebody has a 2300, is a soccer star/drum major/editor of the yearbook/class president and a 4.8 GPA, it doesn't mean they're more qualified than you, and it certainly doesn't mean they'll get in. It also doesn't mean you won't get in.</p>

<p>The reality is, you HAVE made accomplishments in your life that you can be proud of. Everyone does, even if they seem small. And if it isn't an accomplishment that an ivy sees as worthy...then who cares?</p>

<p>College acceptance is ultimately based on one thing: whether or not the school thinks you'll be successful in life. People don't like to admit it, but it's true. Universities are businesses, and they are thinking "who will make the most money later on, and therefore in turn give back to our school?". Their admissions process is as judgemental as Joan Rivers on the red carpet. And you know what? She's an old decrepid woman who has had 1,000 plastic surgeries done. The only reason people listen to her is because she's hilarious, snarky, and sometimes funny. Not because they agree with her heinous ideas on the value of celebrites' outfits.</p>

<p>I mean, really. Does it look like these colleges will truly be able to predict how successful you'll be in life? All they know about you and your circumstances in high school is in a 8-10 page packet talking about you. Can you really explain yourself as a human in even 50 pages? I don't think anyone can. That's why the autobiography section in libraries is so massive...and it's the same reason why colleges really don't know what they're getting when they accept a student, or what they're losing when they reject them. A GPA and an SAT score really don't mean that much as far as how successful you'll be. An application can only tell so much.</p>

<p>So, in short, apply to whatever schools you like. They'll judge you. They'll rip your application to shreds. They might even ask, "How dare this person apply to our school when they are so obviously underqualified?" Really, it doesn't matter, because it is just their judgement, and truth be told, sometimes people don't know jack.</p>

<p>I hope that makes you feel better. In reality though, I'm sure you are more qualified a candidate for the ivies than you think you are. That doesn't mean you'll get in...but, still.</p>

3

<p>Ask yourself - "If I apply, what's the worst that can happen?" Answer: "They turn me down immediately." OK. So you don't get in. </p>

<p>Now if you don't apply, what's the worst that can happen? You don't get in. Same end result.</p>

<p>The difference between the two? In the first you have a "Best Case" - you get in. You may decide to go, you may decide not to go. In the second, however, your "Best Case" and your "Worst Case" are the same - you don't get in.</p>

<p>Now, is it really that scary?</p>

4

<p>Don't be scared, but be realistic. On this board you'll meet a ton of kids who's parents push them to apply to schools they can't get into. My parents were like that. Do you happen to be Asian? It doesn't hurt to apply, but do tell your parents in advance if your stats are below the average at your schools. If you don't have a hook and are white or Asian, tell them you don't have a good chance if your stats are below the 75th percentile. That way if you get in it can be a happy surprise.</p>

5

<p>I know exactly where you're coming from, all the pressure from everyone because they expect everything from you, and then I have my family that wanted me to apply to plenty of Ivy's and MIT, but at least I can be comfortable and know what the schools thought about me. Plus, you don't have to make public what your results were [unless you have a ridiculous english teacher who makes everyone in her class post all of their acceptances on the wall and then tells the principal], so good luck with everything, and sometimes all this pressure is actually for the better [because if my parents didn't push me enough I would never be where I am now]</p>

6

<p>"I feel as if I've done nothing, watching stats for chances threads."</p>

<p>First of all, don't compare yourself to the people on this board. People on here are definitely not an accurate portrayal of college-bound students in general. What you see on here is probably the top 1-2% of students in the academic arena.</p>

<p>An important thing to remember when going into the application process is to keep a level head. I would also recommend not to fall completely in love with just ONE school. Keep an open mind. Look at small schools, big schools, medium-sized schools, research universities and liberal arts colleges. Apply to the Ivies, but remember that there are lots of other schools that are just as reputable, challenging, and rewarding. To be honest, the differences between the top 50 schools are so negligible, that the quality of academic life at all of them hardly varies at all. </p>

<p>Applying to the top schools can be really difficult, but it also ends up being really rewarding in the end. There were times when I wished I was like some of my friends, who were perfectly content applying to a couple of local public schools. It was hard watching people receive acceptances to schools that I was not accepted to. Receiving those notorious small envelopes in the mail is a disappointment, but every big envelope you receive makes your hard work well worth it.</p>

7

<p>it doesnt matter what you scores and ecs are if you can convince the admissions people to like you. if you write amazing essays and give a great interview you are in better shape than the robots with the 5.0 GPA and 2400 SAT scores. but dont apply to a school for the name brand. apply because you want to go there for whatever reason you like because you have to spend 4 of your best years at college. i am applying this fall too and i am just as confused and scared. we are not guaranteed admission to any school, nor are we guaranteed to be rejected from any school. the applicant pools change every year, the "it" school changes every year, and your chances at getting into a school change every year. you may get into harvard this year, but not last year or next year. this process is random and luck can get you into an ivy. all you need to do is apply. the worst thing that can happen is you get in and have to chose between the ivy and your other schools.</p>

8

<p>I applied to Cornell (and got accepted), and my stats are nowhere near as impressive as the juggernaughts you may see on these boards. It isn't that hard. Although there is a lot of money to be made in "getting into ivies", its just a matter of giving a description of yourself taht is interesting or unique. Just be honest about yourself.</p>