I'm in! Now what?

ellemenope
Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:32:42 +0000

You’re stressed, and you aren’t even at the stressful school yet? :eek:

Having had a D graduate from H, here is my advice.

Absolutely agree with Marian that you not load up too heavy that first semester. The kids who had trouble jumped into the more advanced classes with upperclassmen. Hey, these classes are hard and you’re trying to adjust to being away from home and being at college and making new friends. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself while you’re getting used to your new situation.

Realize that statistically, you don’t stand much of a chance at being in the top 10% of your college like you were in high school. After all, almost everyone in your college class was probably in the top 10% of their high school and you all can’t be in the top 10% of college. In fact, 90% of you WON’T be in the top 10% of your college. Just do your best in the time you have. If you are in the top 10%, great! If not, it’s OK. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be the top of the class.

Realize that even though it is hard to get an A in a class, it is extremely difficult to fail a class. Most of the class will be in the B range. If you don’t finish your problem sets you could be in the C range. [Personal experience of D] But you really have to work to fail. So don’t put pressure on yourself to get As.

Realize that you don’t have to be at the top of your class at your college to go on to a wonderful career and a fulfilling life. So don’t think you will be doomed if you can’t get all or any As. Don’t put pressure on yourself.

So my basic mantra: don’t put pressure on yourself. You WILL graduate from your HYP college, maybe at the top of your class, maybe not. You will go to the graduate/professional school of your choice, or a lower tiered one, but you’ll go. You will get that business job you wanted, or one like it that isn’t in NYC. Just enjoy your time there.

No one is going to look at you and think, “How in the world did he/she get into HYP?” Many will be thinking that YOU are thinking that about THEM. So relax and enjoy your time at college. Sure, you’ll work hard in spurts. But my D had time to do lots of ECs while in college and to make great friends. Don’t sweat the details yet.