Emory and Cornell-I'm really anxious...

Answered

Hi @Christine918!

Congratulations on getting into your EA schools! I think you're actually in a better place than most students right now, because at the very least you've already gotten into some schools that (you sound like) you're interested in.

Those acceptances are a good sign: it means there are no glaring red flags on your profile that would prevent colleges from accepting you. As for your chances of getting into Cornell, Emory, or having moved too much in high school — I wouldn't worry about it.

Instead, try distracting yourself by focusing more on high school. This can mean coursework, but I'd also include extracurriculars and your social life — basically, any opportunities you want to take before you graduate. April and then June will come around before you know it.

Here's an essay on "structured procrastination" that I think could help: http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/

Whenever you're starting to feel overwhelmed about incoming decisions, think about something more fulfilling that you could be doing with that energy instead.

Hope that helps! And good luck!

Logically and practically there is no reason to stress over something you have no control of for the next 6-7 weeks right. You can't influence the college decisions process once you've submitted your application.

And it makes no sense to find reasons why your application would be rejected or wait-listed either. That just seems self-sabotaging and unhealthy.

If you are a good fit for Emory or Cornell, I'm sure the outcome will be positive. If you are not, don't take it personally but use it as learning moment and you need to focus on what is in front of you and achievable.

The important thing after this college decision process is over, is to select a school that you like and likes you back. Then give it a try. It not like an arranged marriage. If you don't like your new school, you can plan on transferring to Emory or Cornell. Their transfer rates a better than their first time freshman acceptance rates. I think it's like 15% for Cornell and 22% for Emory. And you don't need a 4.0 college GPA. I think a 3.5 would be just about good enough. So do what I'm telling you, have a back up plan B. I think transferring would be a good Plan B don't you think?

Use this last semester to self care, and keep busy. I'm not sure what your intention is with worrying about APs. I think it's good to keep doing what you've been doing and getting good grades but it's completely optional at this point to take the AP exams. I would only take the exams where you know you'll get a 4 or 5 and some college credit. Many seniors sign up for 4-6 APs and cram studying for them and barely get 2s and 3s. Some even get 1s. That's a complete waste of your time just to take a test because you paid for the exam fee. I think I paid for 5 APs senior year and took 3 and got 2 (5s) and 1(4) and I was happy.

The more time you waste worrying about something completely out of your control the more disappointed you will be if you don't get in. So don't set yourself up for major disappointment. Rather, just focus on being your best version of yourself and think than these outcomes will be what they will be and you'll be Okay no matter what.

I convinced myself that I was supposed to go to MIT. We visited MIT, I watched the videos and subscribed to quirky Nina Wang and thought hmmm. I'm going to fit in perfectly. But I didn't get into MIT, I got into Columbia. So it's all good. Maybe I'll apply to MIT for grad school. No biggie. It's just a school, not the end all and be all of my happiness and future opportunities. I own that.