Did I shoot too low?

N_s_Mom
Mon, 07 Mar 2016 05:37:04 +0000

Did you have a shot at your other top choices. Yes, but it was a very, very small shot. There is nothing in your record other than stellar academics that indicates that you would have been a compelling candidate for any of those schools. You have no hooks. You aren’t coming from an under-represented part of the country - like a rural area that sends few kids to college. You mention no compelling back story that suggests you have overcome major hurdles in your life that provide you with a unique perspective. You have no national level awards or honors (many of those who are accepted do). You have no publications or original research. And unless several of your letters of rec include phrases the ‘the best in my career as a teacher’ or similar, then I’d say your change was close to zero. Does someone like you occasionally get in? Sure. It’s possible. This year someone decides they need an upper income white conventionally achievement-oriented female from suburban PA and there you are…

Does that make you feel better? The fact is you got into a great school. Focus your energies now on how you are going to get the most out of your next four years. What does the school have to offer that you want to make sure you take advantage of?