<p>Earlier this year I got into two schools where the acceptance rate was below 50% (42-46) and another college with a 64% acceptance rate. I felt proud of myself until I heard people saying that was nothing special. I come from a school where the average GPA is a 3.23(?) on a 4.0 grading scale so pretty much everyone here has insane grades. Should I be proud of getting into these? Am I “special”?</p>
<p>You should be proud of your actual achievements, not of getting accepted to some university. The latter is only a verification of the former, and a weak one at that.</p>
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<p>I say that’s nothing special, just grade inflation. </p>
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<p>I agree, but the things that led to the acceptances (grades, test scores, awards, good recommendations) are also only weak verifications of things. I’ve never accomplished anything real. @-) </p>
<p>Of COURSE you can be proud of yourself. You’ve been working hard your entire high school carreer for this. </p>
<p>May I ask which colleges you were accepted to? </p>
<p>Yes you should be proud - you’re going to college! Woo hoo! Congrats! 
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<p>LOL - when I got my first acceptance letter, I was really amped - like, look-who-has-two-thumbs-and-is-going-to-college-amped. </p>
<p>YOU’RE GOING TO COLLEGE YAY!!! Don’t let other people bring you down. You achieved your goals, congrats. No one can take that satisfaction away from you.</p>
<p>Good job! That’s a great accomplishment! :)</p>
<p>Of course! Why on earth not?
Your accomplishments don’t have to be measured against anybody else’s in order to be significant. If you’re where you want to be and on track for what you believe will be success, then nobody else’s opinion in the world matters.
Congratulations, by the way!
Just a personal experience- the same weekend that I found out that I got accepted to my first choice college (the honors program at a good but not exactly Ivy college) with a large merit scholarship, everyone was shrieking about my friend getting into Harvard. I have to say that it took a lot of effort for me not to feel a bit of a letdown- I had to remind myself that I was where I wanted to be, that I hadn’t even APPLIED to Harvard so why should I feel bad compared to her, that we were two different people who had each gotten what we wanted- and still, sometimes I feel a bit of a twinge. But then I remind myself of where I am going and I’m just happy and I wouldn’t trade being me for being her any day of the week. We each got what was best for us.
halcyonheather: I’d say that a 3.23 average GPA is inflated except that I know from experience that it isn’t necessarily- maybe in this case, but I know that my school is a private school with many incredibly intelligent and studious kids who bring the average GPA sky-high. When you can pick your student body, you’re more likely to have high-end-of-the-bell-curve record.</p>
<p>OF COURSE! Congrats!
Think of it this way: 68 out of 100 kids at your school (theoretically) would be rejected. You’re going with the best!
Be proud. I certainly would be.</p>
<p>Be fricking proud of yourself. Celebrate every achievement you have, without feeling like you have to compare yourself to some crazy standard. Congrats!</p>
<p>Anyone who finds themself in a college where they believe they can be happy and engaged and successful should be proud. As long as you are happy, comparing stats and scores and acceptance rates is just insecurity. </p>