Qualified Applicant Rejected from All Schools

[imsobored]

<p>There are tons of people out there with perfect stats and amazing ECs who got rejected from every top school they applied to. What makes you think you had even the slightest chance of getting into the Ivies/other elite schools with a 2100, sub-700 SAT IIs, and mediocre ECs?</p>

[magentaturtle]

<p>Another new member with a low post count but nice sharp criticism.</p>

[JuanitaRebel]

<p>^MagentaTurtle
What bearing does one’s post count have on their ability to provide their opinion?
Everyone starts somewhere or sometime. Should your opinions from your first posts simply be invalidated because they were your first posts?</p>

[Vandyfan14]

<p>I actually agree with you wholeheartedly. I have not read the replies to this thread (simply because there are too many), however you are absolutely right in pretty much everything you’ve said. I’ve spent the better of the past 8 months transferring to colleges (Re: Acceptances to Vandy/USC/UNC/etc.) and I can tell you that you are pretty much dead-on accurate. </p>

<p>I also think that you should have really contacted these schools and told them your true story. In fact, I think if you even just linked this thread, they would be moved enough to take you. College Admissions are a lot less selective than they appear. A sizable percentage of students “backdoored” their way into these Top 25 univerisities, whether it is through legacy, URM, special obscure programs, etc. You are more than qualified for at least 1/2 these schools. Just to give you some background, I have a good friend who was accepted into Harvard with just a 3.75GPA and around a 2100-2200SAT score. It is very doable.</p>

<p>In the world of CC, everyone is overachieving and we often get sucked into the forum bubble of thinking you need a 2400 SAT and 4.0 GPA + saving the world to get into these schools, and it is simply not the case.</p>

[magentaturtle]

<p>JuanitaRebel, post count does not matter much.</p>

<p>But when the account was made in July 2012 and the one post that the person made offers no constructive advice whatsoever, I don’t doubt that the person made a new account to bash the OP.</p>

<p>That’s my opinion. You may feel differently.</p>

[xiggi]

<p>

Thanks for the advice. I really have gotten over any apprehension about not liking Notre Dame and I am thankful to be able to attend it.</p>

<p>In some ways the nature of my college application process and the aftermath has been exactly what I needed. I’m more determined than ever to get the most out of Notre Dame.

</p>

<p>It is easier to look at the last part of the last post of the OP. One could wish that he meant what he wrote and is embracing his admission to Notre Dame. And one could wish he can forget all the rancor he expressed in his misguided attempt to understand how admission worked for him. </p>

<p>In due time, he might understand that it turned out as best as it could for him. Well, there is hope. </p>

<p>PS A good start for the OP would be to rent Rudy and watch it a few times.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>I’m sorry, but I don’t get this. The OP’s stats are just not up to snuff for the most selective colleges, unless he’s a URM, maybe. If anything, his results (admitted to Notre Dame and waitlisted at NYU and Chicago) are too good, based on his stats. He has, essentially, no ECs. The depression issue is simply beside the point.</p>

<p>If this is a real person, he really got terrible advice in terms of his list. He is very, very fortunate that he got the result he did get.</p>

[Rain202]

<p>^ I agree. Considering his stats, Cornell, NYU, and USC are NOT SAFETY SCHOOLS. Preposterous!</p>

[oceanicole]

<p>Okay first of all, all I wanted you to do was take some responsibility because it’s your life and it sounds like you’ve let those around you control it. I fail to see how that makes me whiny, elitist, or arrogant. If that was me trying to demagogue your post (which it wasn’t), this is me outlining my points. Hopefully you see where I’m coming from.</p>

<p>

If you bothered to put yourself in my shoes and understand the context of my post, then you never could make such outrageous statements.

</p>

<p>You don’t know my story, so please don’t make the assumption that I have no idea what you’re going through. I went through crushing depression too. I had a close family member pass away in the midst of my depression (and the week of AP exams…), and I endured the entire thing at a public school. You said that public school was just another obstacle, and I understand that death and depression were way worse. I’VE BEEN THERE.</p>

<p>

I believe that my application was severely compromised and that this can be traced back to a single factor that was not my fault. Therefore, this issue would call into question the validity of my rejections. **It seems to me that I was rejected BECAUSE MY COLLEGE COUNSELOR recommended that I omit some vital information about my school record from my essays ** and that that lack of information caused colleges to assume the worst and reject my application.

</p>

<p>

I didn’t blame my guidance counselor anywhere in my essay.

</p>

<p>I hope you see how some people may find this contradictory.</p>

<p>

I attached a document that dealt only with my gap year.

</p>

<p>I’m sure the other break in your education looked suspicious to colleges. You really should have explained those as well, but I guess that doesn’t matter anymore. </p>

<p>You also said that you view Cornell as a safety now, not when you were applying. I would think that if it were a safety, you would have gotten in. Would you mind explaining your thought process on this? I’m just a little confused.</p>

<p>I also hate when someone says they were rejected everywhere when really they got into multiple schools that thousands of people would kill to go to. It makes you sound ungrateful. In your second post you made it clear that you think ND is a great school and you’re lucky to be going there, and I hope that’s how you really feel. In your original post, it made it sound like you thought you were settling for a full ride to a great school. I think that’s what set a lot of people off. </p>

<p>I’m not trying to argue with you or devalue your life experiences, because I understand how hard it is to deal with things like this. I was simply pointing out that some of the factors that you mentioned that led you to be rejected and waitlisted were not out of your control. It was your choice to follow your guidance counselor’s advice, even though it went against your gut. Who knows? A lot of colleges get essays from a lot of students about overcoming depression. It may or may not have changed your results.</p>

<p>It’s all in the past now, so the best thing you can do is look forward to Notre Dame and have the time of your life there. I sincerely hope it is a great experience for you.</p>

[alexissss]

<p>Everyone, is it necessary to be so caustic? </p>

<p>To OP, I understand. I haven’t lost a parent, but I’ve dealt with depression. I’ve lived under the poverty level my whole life. People have derided me because of my socioeconomic status. I, too, am taking a gap year because I am exhausted.
I’m applying to over twenty schools because of paranoia.
Notre Dame is wondrous. It’s highly ranked, it has prestige. It’ll be great. Work hard and, hey, you could attend an Ivy for graduate. Make up for high-school. Be valedictorian. You can do it because you’re intelligent and a fighter. Best of luck!</p>

<p>To those critiquing OP’s ECs, do you understand how arduous it is to afford stellar ECs when you do not have the funds? No? Then think carefully before you post harsh things.
My god. I sympathize heavily.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>alexissss, I think one reason people are being harsh is because the OP’s first post seems, to be honest, like a ■■■■■ post. It just doesn’t make much sense. A person who got a 640 on the Math Level II (that’s 47th percentile), and a 1 on the math AP, and who has no ECs, and who doesn’t even have a perfect GPA, is applying to Ivy League schools? As I said before, if he’s not a ■■■■■, he’s very, very lucky.</p>

[Lagging]

<p>@alexissss- The reason to go to a college isn’t because “It’s highly ranked, it has prestige.” The reason to attend a school is because it fits you. </p>

<p>Plenty of people struggling for money can afford stellar ECs. Not expensive ones, sure, but there are plenty of free/virtually free ECs. At some point, the OP has to take responsibility for how things turned out. Academically, extracurricularly, etc. Blaming the world will get you no where in life. Telling the OP what you have told is, in the end, more harmful than any critique on here. You’re 1. advising to attend a school because of reputation 2. validating the OP’s blaming of everyone else 3. making excuses for the OP</p>

[alexissss]

<p>Based upon the OP’s choice colleges, he/she places some value on prestige (assuming).
I did not overtly suggest attending a school wholly because of rank. Rather, I am merely pointing out that it isn’t something to “settle” for.</p>

<p>To me, OP isn’t allocating blame to the world. Perhaps he/she is simply experiencing the shock of rejection (once again, assuming).
The stats aren’t important in helping OP realize why he/she was rejected. Even for someone such as myself with low stats, when I am rejected from many of my schools, I’ll still be somewhat saddened. Allow OP some room to vent. </p>

<p>Also, this isn’t always the case. I was unable to apply for many programs because of cost. Also, it is nearly impossible to juggle the search for a place to live with volunteer work. I’ve only been able to amass ECs consisting of school clubs and volunteer work.
Because of my mother’s religious views, I was unable to participate in things like Model UN, travel club, etc.</p>

[alexissss]

<p>@hunt </p>

<p>That is rude. Anyone can apply to Ivies. Sure his scores may fall behind many elite students, but they aren’t terrible.
This “who do you think you are?” attitude seemingly directed at the OP is very callous.
It’s fine to be truthful, but let’s be nicer.
Folks have assumed I’m a ■■■■■ because of low stats. It’s hurtful.
:’(</p>

[redbluegoldgreen]

<p>Hindsight is always 20/20. My advice is to stop second guessing yourself and your counselors and move on. Remember it’s not the college that makes you successful, it’s you.
You can succeed anywhere.</p>

<p>Also, the list of schools where you got rejections are pretty selective schools, and it’s not surprising. The schools get so many apps now, getting in is more and more a crapshoot at the ivies and NECSAC.</p>

<p>Finally, to all future applicants, my advice is to go with your gut. Remember this is YOUR app, and YOUR shot at finding the school that is right for you. Don’t let fear get in the way, or let others talk you out of taking a chance and letting schools know what’s really important to you and who you think you are at heart.</p>

<p>Finally, for the OP, all is not lost.
I transferred after my second year of college to an Ivy that I really wanted to attend, when I felt I wasn’t in the right place. Work hard and keep trying til you get it right. Nuthin’ wrong with that!</p>

[JuanitaRebel]

<p>@Alexissss-
What makes you think you have to spend exorbitant sums of money to get stellar EC’s?
High School Clubs are free/inexpensive, and give you the perfect platform for leadership opportunities, and chances to win awards given the nature of the club.
Sports can be free/inexpensive if you play in the local rec. league
You can do research or intern for free as well, you might even get paid.
The list goes on…
In response to the question you posed: I don’t understand how arduous it is to afford stellar EC’s because simply put money isn’t the deciding variable.</p>

[csdad]

<p>The only advice I can give is that…“things turn out the best for those that make the best of the way things turn out”…stop focusing on what might have been, why things did happen, & what you could have done differently.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>I don’t think it’s rude to congratulate the OP for his incredible good fortune.</p>

[alwaysleah]

<p>

To those critiquing OP’s ECs, do you understand how arduous it is to afford stellar ECs when you do not have the funds? No? Then think carefully before you post harsh things.

</p>

<p>Funnily enough, there is generally no monetary requirement to take part in ECs. Part time job, tutoring, volunteer work, school clubs, interning, etc. Some schools even waive the fees to take part in school sports.</p>

<p>To the OP, congrats on Notre Dame! I suggest you seek further counseling to deal with your emotions - remember that finding a therapist is a match process, and you need to find one that fits.</p>

<p>The reality is that your grades, ECs, and SAT scores were below average for ivys, and none of your “safeties” were actually safeties. Notre Dame is excellent, you are lucky, enjoy.</p>

[Bane25]

<p>

Okay first of all, all I wanted you to do was take some responsibility because it’s your life and it sounds like you’ve let those around you control it.

</p>

<p>Ok, I see where you’re coming from now. But in your original post I just felt like you were trying to attack me. Nearly every user that responded to my post wrote something along the lines of telling me to be more responsible — and I agree with them. But it didn’t come across as a tirade when other users brought it up.</p>

<p>

I fail to see how that makes me whiny, elitist, or arrogant. If that was me trying to demagogue your post (which it wasn’t), this is me outlining my points. Hopefully you see where I’m coming from.

</p>

<p>I didn’t call you whiny, elitist, or arrogant. I was quoting what you called me.</p>

<p>

If you bothered to put yourself in my shoes and understand the context of my post, then you never could make such outrageous statements.

</p>

<p>

You don’t know my story, so please don’t make the assumption that I have no idea what you’re going through. I went through crushing depression too. I had a close family member pass away in the midst of my depression (and the week of AP exams…), and I endured the entire thing at a public school. You said that public school was just another obstacle, and I understand that death and depression were way worse. I’VE BEEN THERE.

</p>

<p>I’m sorry to hear about your depression and the loss of your relative. When I made my second post, I didn’t get the feeling that you had read my story thoroughly or that you wanted to understand where I was coming from. I see now that we had a misunderstanding and I admire you for how you were able to overcome your situation at such a trying time.</p>

<p>

I hope you see how some people may find this contradictory.

</p>

<p>Wondering whether my counselor’s advice was wrong is not the same thing as laying the blame of my college rejections entirely at my counselor’s feet. I clarified this exact point further down in the original post.</p>

<p>From my original post under the College Rejection section:

Like I said, if a professional college advisor is unsure whether I’m better off sending in an essay about my depression and taking the discrimination that might come with that or whether I should just omit that from my essay entirely and hope that that conspicuous absence doesn’t make an even greater liability for my application, what am I supposed to do? I know that my college counselor has my best interests at heart and that she truly believed that omitting my depression would be for the greater good, so I can’t blame her.

</p>

<p>

I’m sure the other break in your education looked suspicious to colleges. You really should have explained those as well, but I guess that doesn’t matter anymore.

</p>

<p>I absolutely agree that it was suspicious. I wrote this in my original post.</p>

<p>From the section headlined College Rejections:

The admissions officers must have noticed that there was a gap between my school years that wasn’t accounted for anywhere in my essays.

</p>

<p>

You also said that you view Cornell as a safety now, not when you were applying. I would think that if it were a safety, you would have gotten in. Would you mind explaining your thought process on this? I’m just a little confused.

</p>

<p>No, that’s exactly what I didn’t say. I said that I put Cornell on the list as a safety in this essay to reflect what I was thinking in Nov and now that I’ve gone through the admissions process I wouldn’t consider Cornell a safety anymore.</p>

<p>From my second post:

Also, I listed Cornell as a safety not because that is what I believe now, but because I mistakenly considered it one when I was preparing for my applications in Dec and Nov.

</p>

<p>

I also hate when someone says they were rejected everywhere when really they got into multiple schools that thousands of people would kill to go to. It makes you sound ungrateful. In your second post you made it clear that you think ND is a great school and you’re lucky to be going there, and I hope that’s how you really feel. In your original post, it made it sound like you thought you were settling for a full ride to a great school. I think that’s what set a lot of people off.

</p>

<p>I completely agree with you on this point. I didn’t address how I’ve grown to appreciate Notre Dame. I wrote the bulk of the original post in May right after being rejected from UChicago and I came across very callously with respect to Notre Dame. Trust me, there’s no way I’m going to take ND for granted. I will go in with an open mind and make the most out of my freshman year. These rejections have shaken away any apathy I previously had. I will make sure that I’m ready to be challenged academically by ND and that I get off on the right foot.</p>

<p>

I’m not trying to argue with you or devalue your life experiences, because I understand how hard it is to deal with things like this. I was simply pointing out that some of the factors that you mentioned that led you to be rejected and waitlisted were not out of your control. It was your choice to follow your guidance counselor’s advice, even though it went against your gut. Who knows? A lot of colleges get essays from a lot of students about overcoming depression. It may or may not have changed your results.</p>

<p>It’s all in the past now, so the best thing you can do is look forward to Notre Dame and have the time of your life there. I sincerely hope it is a great experience for you.

</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>