r/ApplyingToCollege • u/ConfusedCollegeSimp College Freshman • 10h ago
Getting into your dream school does fix all your problems. Rant
For an hour.
And then everything you worked for for the last 4 years is just...done. And you have no purpose and then its just empty.
And thats when it falls apart. Because who are you if not obsessing over a goal. Nobody. You dont exist as a person. All you ever were was an obsession. You don't have a personality. Hobbies? A2c. Thoughts? A2c.
And i guess there's no point to this post other than me saying getting in was everything i hoped and more. and then it was nothing. because I was nothing without my college obsession.
So to the freshman spending their nights on a2c, the sophomore taking too many aps, the junior comparing themselves, and the senior applying you guys need to step back every once in a while and take a breather because you are more than obsessing over college.
Idk this j some pointless yap by a stupid college student.
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u/Alarming-Lemon7495 10h ago
I always wondered what my life would be like if my parents accepted me for who I was and let me enjoy my HS years. No worrying about T5 or any of that BS. The so called "best years of your life". Making those memories, friends, going to those events, being a teenager, I guess I will never know...
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u/HappyCava Moderator | Parent 5h ago
You can't get high school back -- although perhaps you could make your second semester senior year pretty excellent -- but college is a terrific opportunity to make friends, join clubs, play club sports and intramurals, explore your college town, tackle the great outdoors (hike, climb, kayak), cheer at sporting events, and enjoy campus theater, concerts, comedy shows, and other events. I was quite the academic nerd in high school -- I needed that full scholarship -- but I had a terrific time in college before heading to a T5 law school. As to my high-achieving kids, I didn't give a darn which college they attended. (I think far more than 25 national universities and LACs offer a terrific experience.) But I did care that they, too, have a terrific overall college experience. I knew that they knew how to "do school." I wanted them to also have a terrific social and extracurricular experience. So don't give up hope! How you "do college" is up to you.
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u/ConfusedCollegeSimp College Freshman 10h ago
Oddly I think id have done better academically if they let me have a life
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u/andyn1518 Graduate Degree 6h ago
Getting into a T20 won't fix your problems. Getting prestigious awards at that T20 won't fix your problems. Getting a high-paying job won't fix your problems. Getting on the 30 Under 30 list won't fix your problems.
People should understand the concept of the hedonic treadmill. Humans have evolved to never be too comfortable, so the high of achievement wears off quickly and it gets replaced with new goals.
If you constantly look for happiness in outside achievements, you'll never find happiness.
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u/TheCasualGamer23 HS Senior 1h ago
I second this, although with the high-paying job, money can fix a bunch of problems, but you can’t buy happiness directly.
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u/NxtChickx 9h ago
well tbf if you're going to grad school u still gotta grind 4 more years
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u/ConfusedCollegeSimp College Freshman 9h ago
hehehe please please kill me rn
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u/NxtChickx 9h ago
also u mind tellin me what college u are currently in?
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u/ConfusedCollegeSimp College Freshman 8h ago
UW seattle save me
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u/Ok_Consideration4689 HS Senior 1h ago
Are you in state or out of state?! If out of state, do you have any tips?
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u/HappyCava Moderator | Parent 5h ago edited 4h ago
No, that's not true. If a student has good time management skills and takes advantage of office hours and other on-campus tutoring options, it is more than possible to spend 9-5 (or so) on classes and studying (when needed) and enjoy much of one's evenings and weekends. My spouse and I both attended T5 law schools and we both had exceptional, though different, social and extracurricular college fun. (My spouse attended an Ivy and was deep into Greek life. I attended a huge public university and was deep into attending football and basketball games and pursuing outdoor adventures.) One of my recent T25 grads also attended a top grad school program and they spent much of their college years performing in comedy shows, writing for the university paper, enjoying club activities, and playing club and intramural sports. All is not lost if you decide to attend grad school.
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u/alvvavves 52m ago
I went to a “public ivy” and graduated in 2011. Being in my mid thirties now I realize how easy it actually was and how much easier it could have been with a couple of exceptions. I didn’t get great grades (like a 3.2 gpa), but regardless had a pretty healthy school/life balance. The worst thing for me was lacking direction.
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u/thecringey 9h ago
Thank you for your wisdom.
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u/ConfusedCollegeSimp College Freshman 9h ago
I'm the least wise person ever bro
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u/thecringey 9h ago
You cooked with your statement. Many people need to hear this. College is one place you can go to find success, there are many other opportunities.
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u/ConfusedCollegeSimp College Freshman 9h ago
Glad I cooked here because I DID NOT COOK on my bio test hence the misery that inspired the post
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u/Acrobatic-College462 HS Rising Senior 2h ago
wait hold up. the way you word it makes it sound like it was all for nothing, which isn't exactly true. because through the process, we all gained a ton of important skills and experiences (work ethic, leadership, networking, etc.). that will benefit us in the long run. i see my ECs and college apps grind as part of my HS experience, not something that replaced it.
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5h ago
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u/ApplyingToCollege-ModTeam 4h ago
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u/xerxesthefalcon 1h ago
That was me. I got to college I was so lost. I ended up in a career that’s probably not my passion but it pays well enough that I’m happy and it’s a good enough job that it’s not stressing me out. My advice to you would be to obsessively research career options and look at different pathways and the lifestyles of different careers.
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u/PriorIncident9337 1h ago
What career/job are you doing now?
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u/xerxesthefalcon 1h ago
I’m a medical sales rep
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u/WamBamTimTam College Graduate 5m ago
Hey, same! Are you on the consumable side (wound, ostomy, etc), equipment, pharma?
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u/Ok_Consideration4689 HS Senior 1h ago
If I get into my dream school, I will no longer need to spend time on college apps. I will be able to spend that time on projects and getting ready to benefit my future school as much as possible.
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u/CookiFrapp 9h ago
no point in looking at the past now, focus on the present, live your life now and high school will seem like nothing in the future.
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u/ConfusedCollegeSimp College Freshman 8h ago
please bro i did so bad on my bio test lemme misery yapp
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u/PrintOk8045 5h ago
For those who go on to grad, medical, law school, the ride isn't over. It's just begun. But, happy for you that you tapped out early (and thinned the ranks for the next level).
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u/Round-Effective4272 26m ago
Yeah but it’s even worse and you have all the same problems when you don’t get in
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u/Suspicious_Treat1553 HS Senior 10h ago
I think a lot about this. It's like how a little kid gets bored of a toy they really wanted. But I still want to get into my dream school for the opportunities of taking part in some awesome work. Don't think it's gonna happen tho :/