<p>I realize that it is still the top kids in school that get the top spots, with or without working really hard for it. It will probaby be that way all through life. I also realize that if you really want something and believe you can make it work, it sometimes does. So many of my friends doubted I could get in to where I wanted to be. Some of my friends parents told my mom not to expect much . I knew the school I wanted,… it was my safety, my target, and my reach. I let the school know it too. I worked 65 days on that application…I am a hard worker, maybe not the top, but I have done everything I could to prove I can do it, if given the chance. And guess what?, against the odds, the University has given me the chance. I realized some of us have to work like dogs to get somewhere and some of us don’t. I also realize it surly isnt a perfect process…</p>
<p>I don’t know if this belongs here, but the photographer who just took My D’s graduation pictures volunteered that in '84, he was the Val of his school, and he was told he was a “shoe in” for Harvard, by his school and various Harvard alums I pressume he interviewed and subsequently hob-knobbed with. He only applied there and did not get in. He loves his work.</p>
<p>It’s interesting. It made me realize that even if I’m not going to Harvard, not going to be val (and maybe I’ll fall out of the top ten), and all of that stuff doesn’t really matter. I’d rather not be number one than have to feel the pain of doing all that work for “nothing.” I’ve sort of realized the value in doing something just for doing something (learning for learning, not learning to get into college or grad school). The sort of sick thing is that I think that is the most important thing I have gotten out of the college application process, and it’s not an attitude I really chose. I was all set up to be obsessed with the Ivies junior year and then everything changed- and for that I am completely grateful. Mostly I think it was gov school that made me realize I had that quality- and now I think it’s that quality that has kept me happy and excited even after being rejected from a “dream school.”</p>
<p>But in the end it seems I might be majoring there anyway, even though I got there in a completely unexpected path. Everything sort of fell in place, and I’d love to say that it was all due to my hard work, but it really wasn’t. I couldn’t have gotten into my college without hard work, but so many things had to fall in place first.</p>
<ol>
<li> Had to decide that I should give teaching a chance, and apply to gov school.</li>
<li> Had to be accepted at gov school (a small chance).</li>
<li> Had to go to gov school and get two amazing counselors that came from Swarthmore.</li>
<li> Had to fall in love with Swarthmore and rethink my positions on LACs.</li>
<li> Had to go to CC to talk about Swat.</li>
<li> Had to be rejected by Swat.</li>
<li> Had to be convinced by someone on CC (shout out to you, Froghorn) that I really should apply to Bryn Mawr. Even though I didn’t want a women’s college at the time. Even though Bryn Mawr had fallen off my list several times, and even though I had literally a week at most to finish my entire application.</li>
<li> Had to be accepted at Bryn Mawr.</li>
</ol>
<p>If ANY part of that was missing, I seriously doubt I’d be at the same place I am now. And about… two? of those steps were dependent on my academic work- being accepted at gov school and being accepted at Bryn Mawr. Without other circumstances, neither would have happened. I’m definitely incredibly grateful that everything turned out this way.</p>
<p>Yeah, long post. Ah well.</p>