I’m very nervous about applying to colleges. I worry about not writing essays that will make me stand out, I have to retake the SAT Subject Tests because my scores were less-than-desirable (660 on Math II, 640 on Bio M), and I want to include art supplements to showcase my accomplishments in music and drama to help my application stand out even more.
My reach schools are Penn, Cornell, Princeton, and Johns Hopkins. My target schools are Lehigh, Lafayette, NYU, and Haverford. My safety schools are Pitt, Drexel, and Arcadia.
Although I know that I shouldn’t worry about my reach schools, I am terrified that I will be rejected. The whole process is just really daunting and I’m feeling kind of stressed out. How do I cope?
What is in your control is presenting the best possible application and applying to a good mix of schools so be sure to do that. Nothing else is worth worrying about since it is out of your control. And some unsolicited advice from someone who doesn’t have your stats – I’d consider adding a school or two between what you have listed as targets and safety schools because there seems to be a reasonably big gap there.
Know that there will be literally thousands of thousands of people who get rejected from Penn, Cornell, Princeton and JHU. It does not mean they will be unsuccessful in life.
There’s nothing wrong if you get rejected. Just know that.
I suggest you make a timeline that you can follow. Finish your common app essays by this date, finish supplemental essays for early decision/action by this date etc.
If you make a timeline, then you’ll be very organized and won’t stress about your essays feeling rushed.
Also, I suggest you not to look at any more chance threads or results threads (when the time comes). They will just add to the stress.
About the essays part, after you have written them, ask a teacher that knows you, your counselor, your parents etc. to read over them. Essays are not meant to be good the first try. They are supposed to be constantly revised so just ask a bunch of people for their suggestions and if you work hard and edit and don’t procrastinate, I guarantee that the essays will be amazing.
If you aren’t getting any rejections in this process, you probably aren’t doing it right. Almost every student gets rejections. You only need one acceptance. Do not take rejections personally. I know it is hard, but it is not personal. The people making these decisions have never met you. I can assure you that admissions departments make poor decisions all the time. Accepted students are usually not as great as they think they are, and rejected students are not the failures that they think they are. The difference between an acceptance and a rejection is often one or two votes one way or the other. If the differences were clear, then the cc: faithful could tell you which schools would accept you with confidence and they can’t. Sometimes the results seem to be almost completely arbitrary.
Also, be sure to apply to some EA schools. Having an acceptance in your pocket will reduce your stress, and be sure to select safety schools where you would be happy attending.
All you can do is your best, so there is no point in stressing excessively.
You are using words like "stressed, “nervous,” “terrified.” This is not a way to go through life. I would suggest that you do some reading and research and consider ditching Reach/Target/Safety and focus on the many variables that would constitute “fit” schools. The whole concept of “reach,” desperately trying to grab someone else’s idea of a brass ring, may not be your best approach. At least it is clear that this approach is leaving you very unhappy, which is sad.
My daughter is your age and has been feeling the same angst. I finally told her she could take a gap year if it would help, and she really lit up at the idea. Who knows if she will really take one, but knowing she COULD has taken a lot of stress off her shoulders.
It might help you to ask your parents if you could talk to a counselor. My daughter has been seeing one for a few months and she says it has really helped a lot.
“I want to include art supplements to showcase my accomplishments in music and drama to help my application stand out even more.”
Just want to mention that supplements are a help to an application when a student is planning to major in those areas - or at least has significant awards and public recognition for their work. Providing a supplement just to showcase accomplishments is a lot of work (the specifications for supplements can be quite specific) may not be worth your time and effort. The supplements are usually sent to the relevant academic department for independent professional level evaluation by the faculty - again, not worthwhile if your music and drama accomplishments are just ECs.
Here’s how you deal with this “stress.”
- realize that even if you don’t go to your reach schools, you will do fine anywhere if you work hard enough.
- apply to some safeties with good honors programs - if possible, ones with good merit aid.
- realize that at the end of the process, getting into an “elite” reach school and enrolling may not be the best thing for you if you are a person who wants to always being the smartest person in the room.
- Also, it may not be the best thing financially for your family if you are full pay at an elite school (which is a choice we had to make - we picked the state school instead).