Just remember that admissions into these highly competitive schools often comes down to admissions officers trying to balance the classes. So if you have the same stats as a left-handed oboe player and they don’t have a left-handed oboe player in the class, then that person will be selected over you. One of the most brilliant kids I know didn’t get accepted into Stanford but got into every other Ivy she applied to. You don’t need to give up your dreams because one school didn’t accept you. Apply to a range of schools you’d be happy attending…some reaches, some targets and some safeties and you’ll be fine.<br>
There is more than one “right” school.