<p>30,000 people applied to these schools, and most of them deserved to be accepted. Unfortunately, most of us are going to leave the college admissions process with crushed dreams and regrets of what we could have done better in high school. We all have the right to express our disappointment with rejection from our dream schools. However, we should all gain humility from this journey through Ivy League admissions. If accepted, we should be humbled by being one of the few that get the opportunities that Ivy League schools bring. If rejected, we should realize that although we were qualified to be there, we are not entitled to it. We do not need an admissions committee to validate who we are as people or our worth to society. The key to success in life is to make the best of the opportunities you are given whether at an Ivy or a community college.</p>
<p>I personally can relate to the OP. Though I cannot honestly say that i work up to my potential, I believe that I am a better applicant than an overachiever with similar stats because 1. I will be truly challenged for the first time if I attend an academically rigorous university such as the ones that I hope to gain admission to and 2. Because something has to give for the overachievers once they reach college. If they are giving all they have to their schoolwork, they will not be able to contribute to the campus in ways that I will, such as clubs and other ECs due to the ammount of work that they will have to do in order to keep pace with their more intelligent peers. That is why I believe that colleges should be more lenient towards underachievers. I rest my case.</p>
<p>I got into an Ivy League school as a freshman, but I thought I just got lucky (but then again, aren’t all Ivy-league students “lucky?”).</p>
<p>I then transferred to another Ivy-League school after my freshman year. I got accepted to Wharton, by the way.</p>
<p>Hmm, I guess it wasn’t a fluke. </p>
<p>Boom! Roasted.</p>
<p>I don’t feel bad for 2-iron at all. Truly “smart” people who deserve to get into HYP and other highly selective universities are smart enough to do their research. They KNOW what they need to do to get in. They understand the system and will do what they can to let it work to their advantage. Sorry things didn’t work out for you, 2-iron. UVA is truly a good school, but for someone set on Ivy+, I guess it can be seen as a school you “settle for.”</p>
<p>Excellent post, Eeyore.</p>
<p>Yes, naturally people have a right to be disappointed, and to express the disappointment. I’d like to correct any misimpression that I disapprove of that, so thank you for mentioning that. The problem I had with the OP’s Post #1, though, is that it seemed to contradict itself. I do understand that high school students (especially) air their internal conflicts in a way that sounds ambiguous and ambivalent, but it’s important to make an effort to be clear if one expects to be responded to accurately & helpfully.</p>
<p>In post #1 he comes across as both disappointed in himself and disappointed in the process, but it is so ambiguous, and unfortunately strewn with insinuations of unfair advantages & unearned acceptances of others (as well as direct reference to his “bitterness”), that the message is mixed & compromised, with an edge toward entitlement. That’s what I was reacting to. Students, say what you mean: If you mean that those “diversity” types (code phrase for URM’s) and “over-achievers” (code word for people with consistent study habits combined with drive) stole your acceptance from you unfairly, that’s a very unbecoming statement that has the effect of making you look as if you <em>don’t</em> hold yourself responsible for results, when in the same post you state that you <em>do</em>. OTOH, if you don’t mean that, then lose the inflammatory stereotypes, and no one will be confused about your message.</p>
<p>(P.S. Not a URM!)</p>
<p>^^^^@epiphany: I’m not sure 2-iron truly meant what he typed in post #1; I think that he was just venting. Sure, it seemed ambiguous and contradictory with his other statements, but when you’re in a delicate emotional state you tend to not mean things or are coherent. The guy was just disappointed in himself because he found out that his natural ability and hard work to perfect SATs and GPA ruined his chances because he forgot to be ‘well-rounded.’ He came across as arrogant in some regards, but he did not mean it. </p>
<p>It is very easy to be ambiguous on CC; it’s happened to me and I noticed that what I typed did not truly convey my feelings. His dream was crushed, and I might be wrong, but didn’t his parents urge him to go to UVA (I’m not sure about this)? He was still shell-shocked from his rejections, so he really did just vent his feelings in a place for strangers to pick him apart. </p>
<p>I feel bad for him because, like I said, hindsight is 20/20, and I certainly (if in his shoes) would work on ECs and developing a good work ethic over SAT scores (he probably would as well). Just my two cents…</p>
<p>I know it sounds a bit corny but, I’m one of those people who believes that things happen for a reason and although my situation was different from yours I can relate to you on being rejected from your dream school. I applied ED to Columbia, and I had my heart set on the school from the get go. I mean my grandfather went there so I grew up hearing stories about how great it was lol but in the end I didn’t get in and it took me a long time to realize that maybe I didnt deserve to get in. Im a hardworking student, but I couldve done more. I got good grades but I wasnt my schools valedictorian. My SATs werent bad but they certainly werent good enough. I would have loved to go, but I didnt deserve to. </p>
<p>Fortunately, it was my only rejection and my other choices were really great schools. I ended up choosing NYU which was my second choice from the start but yet I’m ambivalent. I should be proud about getting into such great schools but, I still even now have a lingering sense of failure. I totally see where you’re coming from because I’ve already decided that I will be applying as a transfer to Columbia just to see what happens. It’s not that I’m ungrateful it’s just that I’m upset by what I view as a personal failure. The difference is now I know where I stand and where I can improve. Good luck at UVA and keep your heart set on transferring.</p>
<p>That’s fine, big dreamer. (Another good reply.) I realize that people don’t always communicate well when they have mixed feelings. All I’m asking is for some sense of responsibility for that miscommunication. And not all students in his situation are giving out mixed messages in the kind of passive-aggressive way he seemed to. For example, I’ve read cc students say things like, “I don’t really know how I feel right now. I’m kind of angry at myself, but also a little frustrated in the system.” I think that’s perfectly honest & normal – but notice the important difference: no arrogance, veiled or unveiled, and no implied stereotyping. When one’s message is much more two-faced, it’s difficult to relate to it as sincere. It sounds as if the person is just posting with an agenda, and the pity-part overshadows the self-acknowledgement part, particularly since this is already June and these results are not yesterday.</p>
<p>Again, lots of people on CC are bitter AND disappointed that they did not get admitted to UVA. Same for some parents of those students. It’s a terrific opportunity. In fact, for lots of people they wish they could do some double-enrollment at UVA + their “dream school” that they got admitted to. Other wise people take the opportunity to shine at a college other than their dream school, and then attend the dream school as a grad student. The world has not ended with a college rejeciton.</p>
<p>Here is a parent (as if most of you wouldn’t have known by now :)). When my kids or even with people I work with come to me with their disappointments or problems, I try to get a big picture of what they are trying to say and the real reason for their anguish. It is not productive to pick on people’s words when they are upset. Often a simple acknowledgement of their feelings is all that would make them feel better. The last thing they need is a lecture. There is no right or wrong way to feel in this situation. Different people will react to it differently. I don’t always agree with my kids as to why they are upset, but they have every right to the feeling as I have right to mine. I wouldn’t want my H or friends to attack my character because they don’t feel the same, as my kids wouldn’t want me to do the same to them.</p>
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<p>Nope. I don’t know enough about the OP to decide whether he actually deserved to get in or not.</p>
<p>What I actually said was pretty much what you just said yourself: “The reaches have way more than their share of qualified candidates.”</p>
<p>Eeyore characterized what I said even more precisely. In fact, this following quote is exactly what I intended to convey: “30,000 people applied to these schools, and most of them deserved to be accepted. Unfortunately, most of us are going to leave the college admissions process with crushed dreams and regrets of what we could have done better in high school. We all have the right to express our disappointment with rejection from our dream schools.”</p>
<p>Now if you disagree with this (and it appears you do not given your praise of Eeyore’s post), then that’s fine, and by all means we can discuss it. But if the only thing you’re hung up on is my use of a single word, the intended meaning of which I already explained after you sarcastically welcomed me to the world, then I refuse to discuss this with you any further.</p>
<p>@Epipahny: Good post, I see where you’re coming from. I think that his focus on academics blinded his perception of reality, thinking his high scores would = admission. Not the best approach, but I’m sure he’ll excel at UVA (or at least perform above mediocrity). BTW, best wishes 2-iron! :)</p>
<p>When he got rejected, I think that he was just not prepared for the sadness and disappointment that would ensue the rejections. I think that he did not know how to react or cope with the problem, and I agree with oldfort in saying people react differently to these situations. </p>
<p>I think it’s okay to be upset (he sounded confused to me and tried to cover this up with a hint of bravado/arrogance), but we should encourage him ultimately. :)</p>
<p>Wow, very self-indulging. But I did have fun reading it, lol.</p>
<p>Hey all, just to follow up…</p>
<p>I was recently rejected by Northwestern officially (though with their over-enrollment, I saw it coming). Their letter was pretty nice and hinted that I had pretty good odds to transfer (barring academic trouble at UVA) because they keep me on file for a full year…so they will know how long I hung around on the waitlist this year when I apply to transfer next year.</p>
<p>Georgetown also rejected me but offered me something called “priority transfer”. I don’t really know what it means yet…it’s not guaranteed transfer like some schools offer, but I guess it just means that they will give me a little boost when I apply to transfer next year.</p>
<p>So, my plan for the next year:
- Put myself on Georgetown’s priority transfer list
- Write Northwestern to indicate that I intend to transfer next year and ask them if there’s any specific classes I should be taking to prepare
- Kick academic butt at UVa (I got all the classes I wanted, including Microeconomics with legendary Professor Elzinga!)
- Apply as a transfer to Yale (yeah, right…good luck), Northwestern, Georgetown, and maybe Duke or Cornell</p>
<p>Okay guys, with the Georgetown rejection that came in the mail today, my admissions process is finally over. Thanks to all!</p>
<p>Good luck at UVa. Comr back this time next year and let us know how it all turns out.</p>
<p>I think yale takes like 24 transfers a year. :eek:</p>
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</p>
<p>The best part of your post. (Nothing wrong with the transfers, but this is the best part.)</p>
<p>“I think yale takes like 24 transfers a year”</p>
<p>With his stats, I dont think he should have trouble being one of the 24.</p>
<p>I am in no way anticipating being able to transfer into Yale. But it may be worth a shot.</p>
<p>I guess you are done posting now 2-iron but I just wanted to throw into this long string of comments that I enjoyed the post and took the time to read it while not finding it arrogant or self-serving (much :D). I’m glad you wanted to go out with bang and I think your post accomplished that (even ****ing some people off in the process ha). Goodluck at UVA and the subsequent transfer process.</p>
<p>Best of luck going forward. I would also like to add the point that students of your caliber tend to succeed where it matters regardless of where they go to college. Not that UVa isn’t an excellent school already, but the only thing really differentiating you and that kid who got into an Ivy is that he had a little more luck. In 4 years, assuming you and the Ivy kid does well, both that Ivy kid and you will be looking at the same opportunities.</p>
<p>Hi all…</p>
<p>I was reading through this old thread and just thinking about how arrogant and naive I was. I got really caught up in the admissions process my senior year and got pretty frustrated at the end. Just wanted to mention how things turned out.</p>
<p>At UVA, I joined a few clubs, made a lot of friends, and really enjoyed everything college life has to offer. The best part is that UVA is in college town with a lot to do: a great music and food scene and lots of hiking trails nearby. I got a 4.0 my first semester, with three A+ and two A grades. I was really pleased.</p>
<p>Though I loved UVA, I applied to transfer to Georgetown and Yale just to see if I’d make it (accepted by Gtown, not Yale). I didn’t even remember to apply to Northwestern. I stayed at UVA and developed a new obsession with doing as well as possible at UVA. After attaining a 3.96 last spring and a 3.94 last fall, I struggled with bouts of debilitating frustration over my “declining” grades, even though I realized deep down that a cumulative 3.97 GPA isn’t too shabby. It turns out I have OCD, causing me to obsess over things including, but not limited to, how smart/accomplished I am, which makes a lot of sense when I think about the ludicrous things I’ve done in the past.</p>
<p>I’m working with people to manage my OCD (doing a decent job of it) and looking forward to next semester’s classes. I really enjoy all of my classes and have worked hard to make myself stand out to my professors. I’ve gotten to know a few of them. I’m tutoring economics, taught myself how to play a couple instruments, volunteering with the admissions department, working with a Ph. D. student on his dissertation, and developing a class on ethics and economics that I’m trying to teach.</p>
<p>I’m trying to remain level-headed through it all, but sometimes I have a hard time dealing with my mistakes. Again, this all sounds pretty arrogant, but if anything I tend to feel inadequate most of the time. Bottom line is, I’m blessed to go to a school with so many great opportunities (I highly recommend coming here to any high schoolers).</p>