For the longest time, I have wanted to go to UCLA. But, I kind of deferred my dream and focused on something closer; University of Missouri - Columbia.
I will need to start applying for colleges next fall and I was wondering if it was stupid to apply to a college just to see if you get in it? Now, if I did get accepted, that really could change everything (proving to my parents that I can get in, etc.) and I might be able to go. I think that if I was in-state I would have a pretty good shot of getting in, but because I am out-of-state it makes things 100 times harder to get in. But, I was reading about it and to me sometimes it seems kind of random who they let it. Most of the time it is the really high achievers, but once in a while it seems like they might let a few slip through if they have a great essay or something like that.
Anyways, will it be stupid to (most likely) waste 90 bucks on applying to a college that I am probably not going to get in to? (Btw, the 90 bucks isn't a big deal to me, I don't mind using it.)
Dave_BerryCC Admissions ExpertPosts: 2,489Senior Member
Unless you have a vested interest in going to a particular college, applying just as a whim isn't a good idea. If you have no intentions of attending and are accepted, you may be taking a spot away from someone who is truly motivated to attend. I suggest that you give careful consideration to those schools where you apply.
I think you misunderstood. I WANT to go to UCLA more than anything. I just know how hard it is to get into, so I pretty much gave up the dream. We visited LA a couple of times and I fell in love with it, never visited the campus but when we go back to visit family in August I want to go look around at it.
I really do want to go. But, I just don't think I can get in, that's the thing. For example, it would be like a straight C student applying for Harvard or something like that. They probably won't get in, well, I'm not saying that it's a comparison of that same proportion because I have a high GPA and a lot of extra curricular, but it seems like you have to find a cure for cancer to get into it, especially if you are not in-state.
So, yeah, I didn't mean that I was just doing it for the hell of it, just because I could, I am really interested in going, I just think that odds are against me.
The application pools at top schools around the country are flooded with this kind of thing. Because of the exaggerated numbers, seats are taken away from qualified/motivated candidates.
There's never really a case of applying "just to see if I can get in". It's always "no way in hell am I going to get into that elite school, but I'll try anyway but brush it off as something casual so the wound, which I know for sure is coming, wouldn't hurt as bad; but if i DO get in it will be a sign from God that I should party for the entire summer".
(been there, done that haha... and the wound hurts)
I had my schools divided into tiers
Tier 1 - top ivies
Tier 2 - mid ivies + berkeley
Tier 3 - convenient local canadian school
Tier 4 - Backup: UCLA/NYU, low for financial reasons
Tier 5 - back up canadian school
So i had a back up to a back up to a backup. Tier 1/4/5 were all "seeing if i can get in".
You'll never be able to get over the regret of not applying. All you'll ever think is"what if..." and basically drive yourself mad by wondering what could have been.
If money isn't such a huge issue, I see no reason why you shouldn't apply, even if it is a reach.
Replies to: Is It Okay To Apply To A College Just To See If You Can Get In?
I really do want to go. But, I just don't think I can get in, that's the thing. For example, it would be like a straight C student applying for Harvard or something like that. They probably won't get in, well, I'm not saying that it's a comparison of that same proportion because I have a high GPA and a lot of extra curricular, but it seems like you have to find a cure for cancer to get into it, especially if you are not in-state.
So, yeah, I didn't mean that I was just doing it for the hell of it, just because I could, I am really interested in going, I just think that odds are against me.
LP
but please don't clog up the admissions system with "what if" applications.
Would your parent let you go, and could they pay for it?
Good luck.
(been there, done that haha... and the wound hurts)
I had my schools divided into tiers
Tier 1 - top ivies
Tier 2 - mid ivies + berkeley
Tier 3 - convenient local canadian school
Tier 4 - Backup: UCLA/NYU, low for financial reasons
Tier 5 - back up canadian school
So i had a back up to a back up to a backup. Tier 1/4/5 were all "seeing if i can get in".
If money isn't such a huge issue, I see no reason why you shouldn't apply, even if it is a reach.