Agree with Tom. Just because we see some schools as tippy top doesn’t mean they are right for all kids or that those who wouldn’t thrive should go there, just because that level of college exists. Nor that they are the “only” good opportunity out there for you, who you are, your particular strengths and challenges.You want the right environment where you will fit and thrive-- not some trophy name that makes you more miserable.
You have potential. Yes. You worked hard. You have a life skill that will serve you. Find the right environment that will foster your growth.
@TomSrOfBoston “This statement makes no since” is insulting. People with mental illness shouldn’t “limit their aspirations” - should amputees and people with physical disabilities “limit their aspirations”? The only treatment for mental illness is to throw yourself into these uncomfortable situations and train yourself and excel. The first day of high school I wouldn’t get out of the car because I was too anxious to go in the school. In a few months I’ll be graduating. I’ve never missed a DAY because of my anxiety nor have I let it effect my quality of work. If anything, I’ve had to train myself to be less detailed and decide things are good enough. In a few months I’ll be graduating high school. You can do anything if you set your mind to it.
@Mchichioco I’ve sort of accepted the fact I’ll be anxious for the rest of my life, it’s in my blood. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to “relax” but I have come far since being diagnosed. If getting up everyday and going to school incredibly anxious, tired from rituals the night before, scared to talk to people even your own age, depersonalization and derealization and detachment from reality isn’t courage and persistence, I don’t know what is. OCD has taught me much about mental health in general and is the reason I want to go into psychology. I’ve become sort of an “expert” on OCD - knowing everything there is to know about the pathophysiology of OCD and how the medications work to treat it. The psychiatrists asks me to send her information about stuff I talk about all the time.
I guess in general I just have this urge to excel and I’ve had it my whole life. Stanford would make me so happy, so big so beautiful, and if I set my mind on something I do it. I’ve learned to deal with sleepless nights and panic attacks so I’m a step ahead of those at Stanford in that aspect. I don’t think I could be more mentally prepared. Scars replace wounds. I want to say I had the OCD, fought it, went to a great university to study psychology, and became a doctor to help people suffering from the same thing.
I guess I’m just terribly afraid of being “normal”. I want to do something with my life that matters, no matter how stressful or tiring it is.
@ccoryea I think you need to understand something. Regardless of whether you think you can handle it is irrelevant at this point. Your stats are not good enough. Your ACT score is NOT GOOD ENOUGH. You can still do something meaningful with your life even if you don’t go to Stanford. There are plenty of people that do good things that don’t go to Stanford. In fact, you can do psychology pretty much anywhere. You’re asking an extremely prestigious school to take you when you when there are tens of thousands of more qualified applicants, and you haven’t shown them why they should take you. You are wasting your time, money, and you’re going to feel worse when you get rejected. Save yourself the pain and two months of more OCD and anxiety. Trust me. You’ll end up in a place where you belong.
Not sure we will convince OP to look at this realistically. With 40k applications, it takes a lot more than hard work and “But I love it.” You don’t get in because of courage and persistence alone.
A lot of kids don’t understand what it means when 40k apply and, in this case, up to ten thousand of them, maybe more, can have 4.0, rigor including advanced math and sci on the college level, sleepless nights, overbooked schedules, major accomplishments, extraordinary drives. And resilience. Nor does lightning really strike.
Plus, there is still the application and supp to master.
Honestly, if you can raise your ACT, you MIGHT have a shot. Your OCD could make for a good essay, but it’s not really a hook. If it’s your dream school, by all means apply. But with your stats, have realistic expectations on whether or not you will get in.
Stanford is not the only school out there. You will end up at a great college for you, it just might not be Stanford.
Probably an anti-hook. The harsh truth is that discussing mental health issues is still taboo for college admissions. Colleges are even more leary nowadays about students with higher potential to “go postal”, e.g., VA Tech, Santa Barbara, Umqua…
U need to get over your sense of entitlement over a Stanford education. The bottom line is that u simply don’t have the stats.
Visit other colleges. You’ll pleasantly discover that lots and lots of them are really nice. 99.9% of other college students don’t go to Stanford, and they somehow manage to get a life. And u will too.