Helen Cliff, Dartmouth College

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“[I was] really, really stressed out.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“I kind of didn’t believe them. I thought it was a joke. I was looking at the whole thing, convinced that [Dartmouth was] actually kidding. My mindset [now] is to hold on. I don’t want to fail out, but I also don’t really care about getting straight A’s at this point. So I’d like to just cruise.”

Matthew Clayton, Bates College

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“A lot of my friends were really, really stressed out. I was a lot less stressed out than I think the rest of them were. I’m going to end up where I belong, [and] if I get rejected [then] I don’t belong there and that’s the way the world works. I was never too freaked out or stressed out.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“Honestly, I almost wished I experienced rejection just because it’s a process I need to learn to accept, and it was almost too easy for me. [But] at the same time, I’m psyched that I got in and I’m really happy. It’s only December and it’s all over which is very relieving.” 

Darby Leid, Union College

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“I was pretty confident that I was going to get in, but I was still nervous because you never really know.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“I was really happy. I found out after my basketball game and I ran right over to my team to celebrate. It was a great day, even though we lost.” 

Gabi Smith, College of the Holy Cross

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“[I was] definitely a lot more stressed, and I was a lot more frazzled. I definitely cared a lot more about every test, especially because you knew places were watching.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“It is definitely much more relaxed. I am doing the same amount of work, but I am much less stressed about the outcome of every test and quiz.

 

Spencer Wong, Rice University

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“I wanted to get in so I could stop trying at school.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“A lot of relief. Also, I just don’t want to fail out of all my classes. ”

Zachary Knapp, Northwestern University

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“I was pretty nervous. Seeing all these people post is obviously a happy moment, and you’re excited for them, but at the same time it really freaks you out. I was working really hard to make sure any first quarter grades that my early schools would see would not only be comparable to my previous grades but hopefully even higher.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“Well, first I was super excited and found it hard to think about anything else. But I am also excited that now I just get to focus on rooting for everyone else to get into the schools they want to go to. I don’t see myself having much of a senior slump, and definitely not before midterms. I look forward to being able to enjoy my senior year to its fullest.”

Jeff Prince, Harvard University

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“Before getting accepted into Harvard, I felt somewhat of a constant cloud of uncertainty looming over me. Not knowing what your next four years will look like is a really stressful situation. There’s also a great deal of self doubt. You question whether your application and everything it consisted of was actually ‘good enough.’ You also are forced to really focus on maintaining your grades, sometimes at the expense of intellectual curiosity.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“After getting accepted into Harvard, my entire outlook shifted. There’s a sense of relief, for sure. I’ve slept better at night. It’s definitely great to receive validation for your hard work; moreover, it was nice to see how happy the acceptance made everyone who supported me. The night I was accepted, I received so many phone calls. It was really a special moment, realizing how many people were part of the journey–it really does take a village. I also have found myself enjoying classes for the material more. With that being said, the workload school-wise hasn’t really changed, only the stress level with which I face it.”

Logan Sundberg, Colgate University

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“Before, I just wanted to get in and I wanted to keep my grades up. I wasn’t that stressed honestly; I just wanted to know and hoped it would work out.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“After [I was accepted] I was super relieved and just chilled out. It is so relaxing [now] and I have way fewer worries. Now, I just need to kind of keep my grades up.”

Jen Curran, New York University

What was your mindset this year before getting into college?

“Before getting into college, I was so stressed that things wouldn’t work out the way I wanted them to. I spent most of this fall worrying about tests and papers, and I felt like every grade would make or break my chances. I actually got kind of superstitious towards the end and started feeling like I had to do or not do certain things if I wanted to get into school.”

What is your mindset now that you have gotten in?

“After getting into college, I’m still more stressed than expected about all the assignments, but it feels like there’s a lot less pressure if I don’t do as well. It’s more about getting the work done now than freaking out about every outcome.”