Why?

Applying to College
1

<p>While looking through this forum, I noticed the great amount of over-achievers. Everyone appears to have a really impressive CV, and it's not a bad thing; it shows great commitment and motivation.</p>

<p>Maybe since most people here are from the United States, being from a different culture hampers me from understanding the mentality. A lot of people here stress about getting accepted to Ivy League universities, want a 2250+ on their SAT, have an outstanding amount of leadership ECs and have an overwhelming course-load. </p>

<p>Yet, around 10% of the students applying to Ivy League colleges get accepted, and I wouldn't be surprised if most of the students applying are members of this forum.</p>

<p>And if you don't get accepted, it is not the end of the world. In fact, the world is full of possibilities. You can go to a state university, and devote the extra time to the activities you started in high school. You can build above the foundation of your love for helping others, the environment, physics and whatnot. You don't need any college for that. All you need is commitment, knowledge and a love of learning new things, so there's no reason to be upset. </p>

<p>But it seems to me that so many hearts are broken and shattered to pieces when the rejection letter arrives home. WHY? Do you spend so much time out of your own precious teenage years just to be accepted in a particular university, whose officials do not really know the worth of your talents at all? And why is this university important for you; because of family pressures, a fear of failure in your adult life, your ego or something else? Do you study, take challenging courses, learn for the SAT and devote 83452394535 hours to ECs and volunteer work because it's really you, or are you that obsessed with attending an Ivy League University?</p>

<p>And coming to a conclusion, most people do not work for college because they enjoy it, but they do it just for the sake of attending college and having a secure job in the future. Well let me tell you, when a financial crisis attacks the world economy, people WON'T hire Ivy graduates. They will hire those employees whose CVs give off a less demanding impression. </p>

<p>I don't direct this at everyone who wants to attend an Ivy League college, but I know that there is a substantial amount of teenagers who put on a mask of being so worried about world problems when in fact they don't care about any of it. ***? At least admit your actual reasons for all this and stop being such a hypocrite. Maybe this is also the reason why colleges do not want to expand their campuses, facilities and staff due to the sickening percentage of these kinds of people. UGH! Who wants them anyway?</p>

<p>So, WHY do YOU want to attend an Ivy League college? To impress your family? To achieve a certain kind of status in society? SPILL and BE HONEST!</p>

2

<p>I’ve never aspired to go to an Ivy League college, my ECs are rather unimpressive, and while I’m a good student, I’m certainly not a slave to grades. I’m far too lazy for that :'D</p>

<p>I just came on here to find other people who were in the midst of transferring to another school. Simple as that. It’s a bit of a lonely process, after all.</p>

<p>I suppose other people on here might really want to go to Harvard or Yale or whatever, but if they do, what’s it to you? Why do you care? I don’t care if other people are overachievers. Doesn’t affect me. Good for them, in fact.</p>

3

<p>I didn’t want to attend an Ivy; I just accidentally fell in love with Brown, which (to my dismay) is an Ivy. I don’t see Ivy League schools as any higher than many of the other schools on my college list, but in my neighborhood, that’s the minority view. So many people gasp at the fact that I got into an Ivy and they smile and nod at a friend who, say, got into WashU or Hopkins–which, to me, isn’t fair at all, considering I didn’t get into either school.</p>

4

<p>I want to attend a well-known uni. not necessarily ivy but still. because a) I want to learn new POVs and have the best teachers so I can learn well and b) getting into a well- known college is really important in my family :smiley:
I know the second reason is a social thing, but I can’t help it :P</p>

5

<p>Goodness, this thread really got me thinking… During college, I want to learn as much as possible and hopefully have the resources to continue to help the people of Appalacia climb out of poverty. I’m
not dying to go to an Ivy League for the prestige, but I’m open to any college that can help me grow as a person. If that is an Ivy or a CC, time will tell. :)</p>

6

<p>Because it makes my parents happy</p>

7

<p>Looking at your screen name, seems like you are starting the sermon process early in life… also seem like some sour grapes in your post. Sorry, but Ivy grads likely will continue to get hired at higher rates even in an economic crisis. They are mostly very smart and hardworking, and that counts for a lot once you are out of school. It isn’t just about the degree, it is whether you can get stuff done that counts in the working world.</p>

<p>Neither of my kids will attend an Iivy. One honestly did not have the talent. The other does, but for various personal reasons would rather attend a LAC. You are exaggerating how many people out here are focused on Ivy admission – some are, but not the majority, I think. Of course the vast majority of people are successful without an Ivy education, but why are you so negative toward the Ivy educated? You certainly have the choice not to pursue that education yourself… but what gives you any authority to criticize those that do?</p>

8

<p>At everyone who hinted at the “sour grapes” in my post, well I’m not criticizing EVERYONE that goes to an Ivy or top college since not everyone is the same. I understand that there is a variety of students who are being true to themselves and really do enjoy the learning process and the activities that they undergo. From their experience, the admission officers can detect these kinds of students and it is these students who are deserving and get accepted. The majority of others who apply and get rejected ARE NOT of this caliber. And from what we know, most students don’t get accepted. Don’t jump to conclusions straightaway that I’m just jealous and remorseful of these people. </p>

<p>IT’S ABOUT THE SOCIETAL PRESSURES ON TEENAGERS. In fact, I write this because I’ve been hurt by a person who wants to go to a top college so bad that she eventually ended up using her friends to have a chance at Harvard. I, for once, do not want to be around anyone that lies to himself about his true motivations for doing things because in the end they abuse the goodness of other people. What’s the point of attaining a high-quality education if you don’t educate yourself first of all? Don’t they teach kids in the United States to always "Be yourself?"Again, I am not saying everyone is like this, BUT you can’t deny that there are a lot of people who go into this to please extrinsic goals ONLY. Would you rather go to a doctor who enjoys doing his job and getting the money or go to a doctor who’s just in it for the money? Who actually does a better job and what kind of workforce will we end up with if most people don’t at least enjoy what they are doing? How will we ever fix this economic crisis with people in power who work more to fill their pockets than work due to a love of their country? </p>

<p>All things are indirectly related, and I’m not trying to change the world. I just want to bring up some points and make a few people THINK about the world we live in and how it keeps us from truly doing what we inside our hearts enjoy doing and in turn improve the world we live in somewhat. And just because you as a mother have given your children freedom and choices does not mean all parents are like this!</p>