Hello, CC!!
I’m sure I am not alone in mourning those devastating rejections from our dream colleges. But I want to know how others handled rejection before even applying. I went to a Podunk school, that not only didn’t offer any APs, honors, or anything of the sort, but the one counselor we had was fired and reported to the state for negligence. (Many students had to repeat up to two years of HS!!)
I love school so much, if I could go to school for my entire life, I would! (I have been taking free online college classes since I was 12–many of my favs. have been retired Brown and Yale courses.) I really wanted to get into an advanced school, especially Brown University, but that is so far away.
I had no idea what the ACT was–do to the negligence of my school–until I was just about to graduate from HS. I couldn’t afford act prep, so my numbers are good, but nowhere near the 36 Brown usually needs.
Anywho, I don’t have a shot, and I am having to mourn the fact that I will not get into my dream school right out of HS. Has anyone else on CC experienced this? How did you mourn it?
Best wishes!
I’m confused. Are you a junior or a senior? Have you already been rejected from these dream schools of yours, or just anticipating that you probably will be?
Sorry for the confusion!!! I just graduated; I gruaduated early, so I am taking a gap year. I am just assuming that I won’t be accepted into any highly selective universities due to my lacking credentials. (Maybe I’ll still apply this fall, idk?!)
I’m just wanting to see how other CC’s have dealt with the sadness of having colleges out of reach…
There are TONS of good schools in the US. I am going to assume you are a junior. Get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges and look at it. Buy an ACT prep book and self study (ask your teachers for help if you get stuck on something). Use College Confidential to find good schools that match your scores and financial situation. Having a dream school is really just a waste of energy. So many kids don’t get accepted, can’t afford it if they do, end up unhappy when they get there, don’t do well academically when they get there, and overlook schools that are a great fit for them while they moon over the school that doesn’t want them. Ditch that attitude. Just because you haven’t heard of a school that is a great fit and affordable for you yet doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. You can’t control what happened in the past at your HS – figure out the best path forward and forget about the past.
You don’t need a prep course if you have been doing online coursework for years. You should be able to do practice ACT and SATs yourself and try taking them again to bump your score up. Look for a variety of interesting colleges. Try finding the hidden gems that you maybe haven’t heard of but that are amazing places (and ones that those "in the know) probably do know about.
^This. There’s a lot of really wonderful schools out there. I can rattle off the names of a dozen LACs that are not terribly hard to get into that provide terrific teaching, outstanding educational opportunities and great campus environments with a strong sense of community and tons of cool activities to get involved in. True, you won’t get “Wow!” reactions from people on the street who ask you where you go to school, but if you can get past that part, there’s some outstanding institutions out there that are way easier to get into than Brown.
My opinion is that the average person doesn’t really know Brown, either. Just saying… HPYS get a response… but fewer average people know Brown.
Thank you all for your detailed responses! I really just wanted to share stories with others who have faced colleges heartbreak, but I appreciate all your solid advice!
I now have an extra question, for those interested.( You all stirred up my curiosity!) I have already graduated from HS, so would taking the ACT a couple more times look bad? Especially if it means that it took me two or three tries after HS to get a high score?
The etiquette in this situation is quite confusing to me. I have been accepted into a few nice institutions, so I do have fallbacks, but it wouldn’t hurt to up my chances a ‘dream school’.
Where have you been accepted? Are they affordable? What is your major?
And aren’t you listening about “dream school”? It is the worst term on College Confidential, in my opinion. Give up that ONE SCHOOL, or even a couple of schools, are “the best” for you. Plus, it takes a LOT more than just a high test scores to get into a school like Brown. If I were you I would not take a gap year pining for it… go to the schools you got into and knock their socks off (if you really are Brown material, you ought to be able to do very, very well at a lower ranked school – but most students find when they get there that the admissions people knew what they were doing, and they are at a school that works for them).
I do like your user name (owls are my buddies, too) 
I got accepted into three state school, Emerson and Brandeis-- the latter is way to expensive.
For me a ‘dream school’ is ANY school that has my major, which is European History, lol.
So that’s why I’m pinning for one, because it is a harder major to find. I’m planning on just going to my state school to get rid of my generals, and then I’ll switch to a ‘dream school’ aka any school that has my major. (I liked brown for its REMS major, so maybe I’ll transfer…)
And thanks!! Owls are amazing!
First of all instead of mourning your dream school (which has an under 10% acceptance rate) celebrate and embrace the schools you have been accepted to. Many people would give anything to go to a four year college in the US.
Be careful about your plan. Transfer students rarely get merit aid which could make it a difficult if not impossible transition if money is an issue. I don’t think tons of schools have a European History major so I would spend time online looking at course catalogs of schools where you have been accepted and see which affordable option has the most European History courses offered to undergrads.
Thank you for your input! But I think people misinterpret my original goal with this post.
I really appreciate all your advice and all the kind words, but I really just wanted to exchange stories.
I wanted to hear of other people’s tales of ‘rejection’ before even making it to the door; or even straight up rejection letters after applying and hence moving forward.
I probably didn’t get that across in the OP–which I’m sorry about, since I’ve been super tired and CC doesn’t let you edit for clarity! But I do want to let you all know how much I do appreciate the advice!