<p>True, I just dislike the school; my brother goes there.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any comments? Should I have expected this nightmare or was I just pretty dam unlucky?</p>
<p>OP, you seemed like quite a qualified applicant, and don’t give up hope. Several years ago, my sister got waitlisted by Washu but admitted into Harvard if that says anything (she later called Washu and asked why-- they said that they thought she wouldn’t have attended). Even if you end up going to your safety, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Especially if you decide to go to grad school later on, that’s what really matters. If you keep up your effort and manage to be at the top of your at your safety, that kind of thing looks impressive. I know multiple people who have attended the local state school for undergrad, landed good grades, and later on went to Ivies and other top institutions (including Harvard) by either transferring or later on for med school, grad school, etc.</p>
<p>When you have so many qualified applicants applying for a few spots, all you can do is hope for luck. If it doesn’t come this round, then perhaps it will in a year or two if you want to transfer, or four years from now if you go on to grad school.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. My safety is actually a decent school; however, it is ranked 2nd in difficulty/work and 19th in unhappiest students. I could possibly transfer out later, but it would be very difficult to get into a decent school considering the amount of grade deflation that occurs at my safety. So right now, I am just trying anything that could get me into my other 5 choices. </p>
<p>Please understand, I am not upset because I got rejected by JH, but because I was rejected/waitlisted at every school I applied to except my safety. I am just out of luck.</p>
<p>I really don’t think appealing Duke is going to do you any good. I mean, I know it won’t hurt to try, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up. If Harvard ends up rejecting you, you don’t get into WashU off the waitlist, and you REALLY don’t want to go to your safety (I’m assuming Case?), you could take a gap year and do something meaningful. I know someone who wanted to be a doctor who got rejected everywhere (including her “safety”!!) and ended up going to an impoverished area in I think Uganda and setting up a clinic. She applied to colleges a year later and is now at an Ivy. You seem to be very involved with Lebanon/Lebanese culture and goodness knows there’s a lot of unrest in that area. Could you do something to help people who are suffering? Or maybe do something within your area of interest academically? Having that year of experience doing something like that could greatly boost your chances if you end up taking the year off and reapplying. </p>
<p>Also, please remember that going to a college that doesn’t seem appealing to you at the moment does NOT in any way mean you won’t like it in the end. I understand that right now, you were so pumped about going to JHU or Duke or whatever, and realizing you can’t go there is devastating. However, take the time to realize your situation. You may not have gotten into the “elite” schools you wanted to attend, but if you do go to your safety, chances are there will be many opportunities to excel and perhaps less competition for those opportunities. It is possible that courses will be somewhat easier as well, so you can maintain a higher GPA while participating in numerous activities. If Harvard’s decision does end up being bad (hopefully it won’t be!!), then take the month of April to REALLY consider EVERY option. Right now, you’re probably all worked up because you just got 2 rejections in the span of 3-4 days. Relax, think things through, and I think you’ll realize you still have a LOT of options. If you are truly amazing, you will make the best of this situation. And who knows, it might actually work out for the best that you got rejected from your dream schools. No one knows the future: it’s all what you make of it. So good luck, make good choices, and don’t give up hope. =)</p>
<p>Thanks for the long realistic response. I definitely do not want to waste a year of my life, so if it comes down to going to my safety, than so be it. I tried being very active in the Lebanese community (including service), but that was not enough for those pricks. They don’t really appreciate the experiences I have been through and the diversity I can offer to campus. I am not going to let a couple schools hold me back a year.</p>
<p>About appealing Duke, it does sound very unrealistic, but I feel the need to address my decision. I have nothing to lose by calling (unless the adcom is a serial killer). So, I am indeed going to have a word with them.</p>
<p>Senator, I know I will hate Case. There is a reason it is ranked 2nd is toughest course work and 19th in unhappiest students. I do believe I can succeed at Case, don’t get me wrong. But I really really do not want to go there.</p>
<p>I guess this is why they tell you that you should always “love your safety.” And do keep in mind that a gap year is in no way “wasting a year” - there are so many experiences to be had out there that you simply cannot get from college/academics. You would have the opportunity to participate in activities you otherwise never would have. After college, chances are you’ll start working immediately, or go to grad school and then start working, and so begins the rest of your life. Academics/going on to college isn’t everything, and waiting a year is by no means wasting it unless you literally sit on your butt at home and do nothing.</p>
<p>And if I may, I’d just like to point out that you have been through some very unique and hurtful situations…But if you’re going to claim that these situations automatically gives you the right to go to the best universities, then I would say you need to think a bit more. These situations in themselves are huge things that you should learn from; you shouldn’t merely using them as a tool to get into college and call adcoms “pricks” because they didn’t let you in. That’s all…</p>
<p>Senator, I am not saying that these situations alone qualify me for admissions; did I ever say that? Most of my Ex-Cs are geared toward Lebanon (Human rights advocacy group, political involvement, service involvement through my youth group (which I am the president of), et al.) My argument is that I have an extreme diversity factor (both by experience/involvement/upbringing) which I feel was overlooked/ prejudiced against. Either that, or they automatically disqualified me based off my CR score (I guess that would have been a fair reason for disqualification). Can you think of any other reasons why they would reject me (this isn’t a rhetorical question; I am actually wondering)?</p>
<p>My anger centers around the fact that they use the phrase “to promote diversity” as a tool to admit URMs with weaker stats (than mine/other applicants). I am fine with promoting diversity in a college campus. But if they are going to use that argument, shouldn’t they accept academically qualified applicants with extreme cases of diversity? I just dont understand how being an African American (without any evidence which proves he/she has significantly different upbringing/experiences) is more diverse than myself (given my upbringing/experiences). </p>
<p>I agree, I should not have called the adcoms, pricks. That comment was just a result of the natural anger one gets (regardless of qualifications/situations) from a rejection.</p>
<p>Again, I totally understand how I could have been rejected by any of these schools. In no way do I feel entitled to a spot. Nor do I believe that my race/experiences equates to qualifications, given the amount of applicants far more qualified than myself academically. But if colleges are going to use that as an excuse for applicants of only a select few races, I am entitled to complain. </p>
<p>And no disrespect to Duke; I believe all college admissions committees are corrupt to some extent. For example, George W Bush getting accepted to Yale b/c of his father.</p>
<p>Actually, I take back my comment about “some” adcoms being pricks after reading this article, lol: <a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-09/dirty-secrets-of-college-admissions/full/[/url]”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-09/dirty-secrets-of-college-admissions/full/</a></p>
<p>Bump 10char.</p>