<p>Thanks everyone for the feedback. I agree with those who wrote that it is a good thing to strive for a number one choice, and that certainly one can be very happy at their “dream school”. The point of my original post was simply that the admissions decision at such a dream school is not a guarantee of happiness at the school, or unhappiness at the second choice if rejection occurs. Often, kids mature after a set-back and the life lessons learned mean that things work out better than if they had succeeded; however, this doesn’t mean that failure should be welcomed, it just means that kids need to understand that the key to their future success and happiness does not depend on how one particular school’s admissions department views their application. Parents are a key part of that–if you’re imposing your dream on your kids, it’s unlikely to end well.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone’s kids as they travel the road through admissions, college and beyond.</p>