<p>My S found out tonite he did not get into Berkeley, which had been his #1 choice when he started looking at schools. Financially, it would have been a huge stretch OOS, and we had several heated discussions about that in the fall. I let him apply, but I said to him, don’t get your hopes up.</p>
<p>Since then, he discovered Tulane. We went to a reception, he got interested, we then went for a visit and he discovered he liked it very much. He ended up with a very good merit aid offer there and admittance into the honors program.</p>
<p>I was wondering whether he was going to have 2nd thoughts if he got admitted to Berkeley. Don’t need to wonder about that any more. I think he will appreciate his offer from Tulane all the more now. This is his first rejection - ironic it’s from the school he wanted most at the start of all this.</p>
<p>I have a great deal of admiration for your son! What a neat kid with a truly wonderful attitude. You have to understand that your son’s love of Berkeley was based on what he thought at the BEGINNING of this process, but after really getting to know Tulane and having the experiences with the reception/visit, he came to realize that it was a good fit for him, made all the better by the merit aid! I definitely found that my son’s EA rejection hit him MUCH, MUCH harder than the rejections that came after and with other wonderful acceptances. Your son sounds like a very bright and resilient kiddo! My best to him, and CONGRATS on TULANE!!</p>
<p>Thank you berurah. I think he is going to do so much better at Tulane - it’s much less bureaucratic and huge than the Cal system. He nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to complete the application for Berkeley, it was so huge and red tape-ish. When I tried to tactfully (I thought!) point out that red tape would be a fact of life in attending a huge state school, he nearly bit my head off. I think coming from a small town he will do so much better at a school where he can actually get to know his professors and fellow students more. </p>
<p>I think this rejection would have been devastating in the fall, right now it’s just an afterthought, especially with his Honor’s reception weekend coming up in NOLA! thanks again for the nice congrats.</p>
I think you’re absolutely RIGHT! That’s SO exciting about his upcoming Honor’s reception!! Hope y’all have a wonderful time! I <em>LOVE</em> NOLA, though I haven’t been in quite some time–used to go frequently as a child/teen though. I also have a cousin who is a Tulane prof! </p>
I definitely found that my son’s EA rejection hit him MUCH, MUCH harder than the rejections that came after and with other wonderful acceptances. Your son sounds like a very bright and resilient kiddo! My best to him, and CONGRATS on TULANE!!</p>
I <em>LOVE</em> NOLA, though I haven’t been in quite some time–used to go frequently as a child/teen though. I also have a cousin who is a Tulane prof! </p>