Amy - Hillsdale College - Class of 2015

My dad's one rule is that I should not back down from a challenge. So going into the application season, I decided to go for two colleges that were absolute long shots for me.

Aiming high for Georgetown

I applied for early admission to Georgetown University and regular admission to The College of William and Mary. I decided that if trying my hardest wasn't good enough to get me in, it would simply mean that the school was not right for me. I picked Georgetown for its proximity to home, its challenging academics, and its diverse culture. I chose William and Mary for its beautiful campus and its academics.

However, my dad and I soon added another school to my list: Hillsdale College. The sister of a friend of mine was a junior there, and she loved the school. So I applied and promptly forgot about it. The rest of my schools were recommended by people at my church and were my backups.

Deferred, waitlisted, and denied—now what?

The woman who interviewed me for Georgetown made the experience so enjoyable, I left with the hope that I might be a good fit there. When my deferral letter arrived, I was stunned. I broke down in tears and then coped with my sorrow by finishing up my William and Mary application. Over Christmas break, my mother stood behind me and forced me to finish my last essay. Several months went by. I got a job at a coffee shop, I performed in my school's musical, and I got my driver's license. I heard from Hillsdale. I had been accepted. I was glad, but I didn't take it seriously at all.

Then over spring break came good news and bad news. The good news first: I visited Hillsdale College and fell in love immediately! I loved the sense of family on campus. As I walked around the college, students introduced themselves to me and encouraged me to look at different clubs on campus. The academics at Hillsdale are excellent, with small classes and the opportunity to forge great relationships with professors.

Now for the bad news. About a week later, I got a waitlist letter from Georgetown. I decided promptly that I would go to Hillsdale and turned down the waitlist offer. Two days later I heard back from William and Mary. I had been rejected. But I soon recovered. I was going to Hillsdale College in the fall and was very excited about it!

My ups and downs

Although I had mentally prepared myself for rejection, I was extremely disappointed at the deferral from Georgetown. When I opened the letter, I was helping at my little sister's birthday party and had to hide my disappointment for several hours. That made the disappointment that much stronger.

I was lucky to have had the support of my parents the whole time. Several friends of mine struggled with the expectations of their parents, which made the application process a very negative experience for them. I actually enjoyed my experience!

What I learned

I took a chance, applied to big name schools, and dealt with not getting in. I encourage other seniors to take a risk and try something new. Also, enjoy your senior year. Spend time with your family. It passes way too quickly, and the next thing you know, you're meeting your roommate and saying goodbye to your parents. Enjoy these last few months of security!

The money factor

I received $27,000 in merit-based scholarships. My parents are covering whatever isn't covered by my scholarships.