<p>I just need to rant. I got rejected to every school that I applied to, except Indiana University and Tulane University, and I still have to hear from William & Mary. Tulane is a pretty good school, but otherwise, I feel like academically my career was a complete waste. I volunteered all of those hours, did all of those extracurricular activities, just so I could go to some state school that I never wanted to go to, and was intended as a safety. I had hoped, as I was a freshman, that I would never end up there, and now that it might be a reality, I just want to burst into tears. I was really wanting to go to Notre Dame, and I just threw my rejection letter in the trash. A little advice, if you do not get perfect on your SAT/ACT or discover a cure for cancer, then don’t bother because you are just going to end up at some **** state school.</p>
<p>It’s tough. The admissions this year were insanely competitive. It is important that we find the cure for cancer. There are few (if any) people left in this world that do not know a family member or close friend that died due to cancer or cancer related illnesses. With the proper motivation, one example you cited in your rant, we can finally overcome the deadly disease(s).</p>
<p>i did not get a perfect SAT</p>
<p>i did not cure cancer</p>
<p>i am not going to a **** state school</p>
<p>lol, I am assuming that cancer part was supposed to be slightly sarcastic, and yes, I have had relatives pass away from cancer. But I just feel that some people have too much of an advantage - they have the money to go to all of these summer research/debate/study abroad programs and I never had the resources to do any of that stuff. I know that it’s no excuse, and that it is still possible to get in with good grades, but I just feel like a complete dumbass. I am just frustrated that all that I ever wanted is slowly fading away. I don’t want to go to some school in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of freaking Indiana for goodness sakes, it’s just not the life that I imagined I would have.</p>
<p>Rudy, Rudy, Rudy…</p>
<p>I can tell you volunteered and performed extracurriculars for the wrong reason from your post, and I’m sure the admissions officers could tell too.</p>
<p>I really did volunteer, for example, at a local hospital, because I am interested in pursuing pre-medicine and I participated in show choir and chorus because I enjoy participating in the arts. I think I just put it that way previously because I was mad and in the middle of a rant. I am just frustrated that no school thought that I was good enough, talented enough, or driven enough, and that I get to go to a state school where kids go who don’t give a **** as much as I do about academics and giving back to others.</p>
<p>^^I’m sure you did them for the same reason too.</p>
<p>Well i can understand your impulsiveness because i would be irritated too if I got rejected from almost every school I applied to. However, there are many things you have not taken into consideration. First off, and most importantly, colleges are looking for passion. Just because you did extracurriculars doesn’t mean you showed any passion in them. It’s the difference between just doing Science Olympiad, and winning on the national scale. It’s also the difference between singing in show choir, or making All-State choir. Volunteering is good, but that in itself is not going to get you into college.
Sure, you are good academically, but have you showed any interest in academics beyond the classroom? Have you won anything notably on the national scale for any particular field of academics? I can guarantee you do not need to cure cancer to get into a good school (over 100,000 kids accepted over the past years into top colleges, and not one has cured cancer). Moreover, a perfect SAT/ACT will certainly not guarantee you into a good college, as there is minimal difference between a 2250+ and a 2400 and a 34/35/36. </p>
<p>My friend got a 2320 on his SAT, made USABO semifinalist, Chemistry olympiad honors, and is passionate about art, and he has been accepted into every school he has applied to. </p>
<p>Passion and drive to get into college is not true passion or drive. You will try to find every shortcut and loophole, which will end up impeding your growth. Remember that life does not end in high school…</p>
<p>Actually, Indiana is a good school and you will find that there are many students just like you there…and maybe even a little smarter 
As a parent, it saddens me to see how the whole college application process has changed the lives of our high school students. Basically, we are creating a bunch of “fake” achievers. Of course you want to do your best, but I hope you don’t think all of high school was a waste. When my son didn’t get to play much basketball on the Varsity team his senior year, we all knew he had a great time over the years playing basketball…if not, it truly would have been a waste…but hey, he loved basketball! I hope you enjoyed all your activities in high school as well and you will realize they were not a waste. I only applied to one school (my dream school) and was turned down flat. I was devastated, but looking back, it was a good thing and good things came out of it. They will for you too, michplusdich…</p>
<p>mich—
I am sorry you are hurting. You have every right to be–you have suffered a big disappointment. Give yourself 24 hours of absolutely wallowing in self-pity and despair. Then shake it off and move on. You have solid options–go make the best of them.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I understand your frustration, but you have to look at it from the university’s point-of-view. When they say that they don’t have as many spots for everyone who is deserving and would do well, they are serious. There are also students with higher stats than yours who were not admitted. So where will some of these students go? State schools. Yeah, there will be some who academically barely rate as an 8th grader, but those people won’t take more advanced classes and may, in fact, flunk out. </p>
<p>Think of it this way: you will probably have a better chance to stand out at Indiana than you would at a more prestigious school. You still have many, many opportunities to be challenged, but only if you open your mind to them.</p>
<p>i’m really sorry mich- that’s what i’m scared of happening, that if i end up going to my safety all my hard work in high school will be a waste since i could have done less and still gotten in (kinda overthinking this @ this point since i’m a junior…) but just remember, college is what you make of it, and your hard work has gotten you good habits that will help you succeed wherever you go. also, if you’re not happy at tulane, that’s why there are transfer options. i mean, it’s totally reasonable that you’re upset, and take some time to get over the disappointment- just know that this isn’t the end. everything will still turn out ok. i wish you all the best!! :)</p>
<p>@bsmd11 - I have done only one thing with college in mind - become a representative of my school at district meetings - and I greatly regret it. Everything else I have done was out of interest. For instance, even after the application season and ECs don’t matter for college anymore I still carry on with them; I still tutor through NHS (even though I am well past the requirement); I still volunteer at a local cat rescue once or twice a week; and so on.</p>
<p>I even just went on a service trip to New Orleans with my school, even though (gasp!) I couldn’t put it on a college app! Guess what? I had a blast, I met some amazing people, I learned a lot about architecture, and I got an amazing feeling from contributing to a person’s new home.</p>
<p>I’m not saying I don’t feel sorry for the guy, as I totally understand his frustration with having to go to a state school (Tulane is awesome though! I might be going there myself), as a state school is not the environment I’m looking for at all either. I’m just pointing out that maybe he did not receive the acceptance letters he hoped for because admissions officers could tell of such a quality. Competitive schools look for true passion. See csk90’s comment for a reiteration of what my point was.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I’m not saying I have the passion that those schools are looking for. I’m expecting to be 0 for 5 on the Ivy decisions tomorrow evening.</p>
<p>Sure, FallenAngel9, sure.</p>
<p>
I got rejected by Notre Dame with a 34 on the ACT, so definitely not all academics either, bro.</p>
<p>
Unless you’re going to put the college you graduated from on your tombstone, who cares as long as you get an education.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear about the bad news you received…but keep in mind,
Indiana University is not some third-rate university. It is still a U.S. News Top 100 school.
It’s the #1 party school in the nation too, so you will have a good time for sure!
I hope you end up happy whether you choose Indiana U or Tulane, which btw is a great school as well.</p>
<p>@bsmd11 - Haha okay, I really don’t care what some dude over the internet thinks. Ta ta, now.</p>
<p>^lol k bro</p>