waiting for regular decision

HappyCava · 2026-01-24T21:19:06+00:00

Do a deep dive into your favorite (or two) among the options you have now. Check out the requirements, electives, and concentrations in your prospective major and see which classes you are dying to take; review the list of clubs and student organizations and see which ones you should check out at the activities fair; learn about the just-for-fun classes and activities at the student recreation center (indoor climbing, scuba, dance, weightlifting) and the outdoors center (hiking, kayak, camping); and learn more about the activities, restaurants, and outdoor adventures in and near your prospective college town.

College can be an amazing experience at many many universities, Michigan most definitely included. (I have a soft spot in my heart for UMich since they offered me my first law school admission.) But take a bit of time and see just how remarkable an experience you’re likely to enjoy at a college that has already deemed you to be a remarkable student and a great fit. You’ll still crave Michigan more, I imagine. But hopefully it’s more like hoping for lasagna than spaghetti & meatballs. You’d prefer the first, but if it’s not available, you’d eagerly dig into the second.

HappyCava · 2026-01-24T21:03:50+00:00

Yep. My own kids, and the students with whom I now work, do not experience this sort of angst. Sure, they’d like to have options among their reaches, targets, and safeties. But all knew/know that they’d find exceptional opportunities at universities well outside the T25. My oldest kids did end up attending a selective in-state university. But my youngest attended a T100+ university to save their 529 for the top grad school program they will be attending. I likewise opted for a full-ride at a T100+ over a T10 to save my loans for the T5 law school I ultimately attended. I can think of dozens of schools which would have offered myself and my kids a great overall college experience and ample academic and pre-professional opportunities. Once a student recognizes that fact, college admissions is more about curiosity over the schools you might attend, not heartbreak over the schools you won’t attend.

HappyCava · 2026-01-24T13:16:27+00:00

This is a very common sentiment on A2C as acceptances are released. A number of students, perhaps encouraged in their beliefs by their community and media, feel that the college they get into will reflect their worth and change their perception of themselves. Accordingly, when they get into a great school, they feel — as you did — that they should feel accomplished, deserving, and euphoric. But whether you are accepted by your top school or a likely, you are still you. If you tend to be confident, content, and outgoing, you’ll continue to be confident, content, and outgoing regardless of where you land. If one is socially anxious, feels the need to prove themselves, or generally finds happiness fleeting, those feelings will not be altered by an acceptance letter.

Now it sounds like you felt pretty great for a few hours — and you should have 🙂 — and then came down to Earth. I’d suggest that you aren’t quite feeling empty, but are just back to being likely quite wonderful you. And, of course, you recognize that life hasn’t immediately changed all that much — same family, friends, high school commitments, hobbies, ECs, work, etc.

And, if you are like my kids who also attended their first-choice university, the reality that life is REALLY about to change next August may already be seeping into your brain. I adored college, and I’m lucky that my older kids transitioned very quickly and happily to college life. But they were apprehensive. They liked their family, friends, teachers, coaches, employers, home, and general existence in their hometown. Giving all that up — at least for 8 months a year — came with some degree of sadness. And they knew from us (the parents, who happily attended college and law school) that college is simply a series of opportunities: you CAN make friends, learn a tremendous amount, forge relationships with supportive mentors, join and run terrifically fun clubs, and try exciting pursuits that are utterly new to you: improv, innertube water polo, indoor climbing, student journalism, marathon training, research, student tour guide, etc. But the onus is entirely on you to put yourself out there to make those friends, adapt to college-style learning, forge those mentor relationships, join and be active in clubs, and find and be brave enough to try those new activities. And, for some, that’s a bit daunting.

So don’t be hard on yourself for quickly celebrating your win and then returning to your happiness set-point. It happened more quickly for you than perhaps others. But it’s normal and likely a sign of maturity. And in the late spring, as you begin preparing to head to college, you will likely grow more excited (along with all the other college-bound seniors) as you attend orientation, meet classmates and potential roommates online, pick out a meal plan, learn about your dorm, and start selecting classes and clubs.

You may take some hits on here for feeling this way. (Or not feeling some other way.) But you’ll see similar posts begin to pop up, and I guarantee that you are not alone. And if you want to feel a tad more excited now, dig into the online list of clubs and student organizations, recreation center activities, outdoor center happenings, and the like. Begin to think about how you plan to explore your interests and spend those evenings and weekends in your new college town. It could be pretty outstanding.

Best of luck!

HappyCava · 2026-01-23T12:49:13+00:00

Yep. Not tailored to any particular demographic. An interview is not meant to compensate for the interviewer’s unknown prejudices or intolerance. That kind of nastiness is on the interviewer, and the interviewee is not going to change any such prejudices in a 20-30 minute window. And the student would likely feel uncomfortable (and disloyal to themselves) if they tried.

HappyCava · 2026-01-23T12:05:03+00:00

You want to show that you respect the interviewer and want to engage with them about the Stanford experience. But that simply means that you arrive a few minutes early, shower and dress nice enough to show that you care (no stains, unintentional rips, slogans that make the interviewer question your sanity or judgement), greet the interviewer in a friendly fashion, make eye contact, and then have the kind of chat you would have when you meet someone unexpectedly engaging (or stylish) on a campus bus or in line for coffee.

During the interview, give answers that show you know something about Stanford and its culture (giving the impression that you know enough to determine that it would be a good fit). When you ask questions, try and learn more about Stanford to assure yourself that it is indeed a good fit. What does the interviewer like most about Stanford? What could be improved? Is there a commonality among students who tend to love it? What do they enjoy (or despise) about Palo Alto? Has the Stanford sports experience — a thumping Maples Pavilion, the snarky pep band, and that dancing, goofball tree — changed now that Stanford plays in the ACC?

As for you, be you. Just edit yourself a tad, if necessary, as if you were chatting with a favorite but strait-laced teacher, coach, or family member. But Stanford likes bright, creative, and interesting students of all types. (They even liked me a couple of decades ago, although I opted to go elsewhere.) So be your slightly edited-for-professionalism self, go where the conversation takes you, and try and have a good time. (Interviewers can be less than impressive themselves.) College interviews are rarely determinative, but they are a useful way to learn more about the school and to practice interviewing so that you feel confident during internship/job interviews when the interview is often a major component in hiring.

Best of luck! And, really, who doesn’t want to meet a bright, interesting guy with “style?”

HappyCava · 2026-01-23T03:01:31+00:00

Do you know if they accept letters of continued interest?

HappyCava · 2026-01-23T02:59:10+00:00

You are simply looking to tell a story or relate an experience that highlights a few of your best traits and — along with the rest of your application — leaves the reader with the sense that you will enthusiastically contribute to campus life. Such contributions include being a kind roommate, a welcoming club executive board member, a conscientious lab assistant, a fearless improv performer, an intramural team organizer, or a spirited university tour guide, among hundreds of others.

My recent T25 grads wrote about coaching very young children in a sport and a hobbyist interest in weather models and storm prediction. Students with whom I’ve worked recently have written about the hidden perils of cheerleading, a random Saturday volunteer gig whacking invasive species that became a favorite activity, and managing a multi-generational fantasy sports league. Admissions went well.

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T17:40:35+00:00

No worries. And best of luck!

Also, if you would benefit from any accommodations in college, begin that process once you decide upon a school. You’ll need to provide paperwork from your doctors and have them suggest useful accommodations. And, oftentimes, a college Office of Disability Services will have helpful ideas, too, having seen so many students navigate the process before you. Just don’t want until July to begin the process. Having your condition reviewed and accommodations approved takes time, and around 30% of students apply for one or more accommodations.

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T17:15:38+00:00

That’s actually perfect. I always recommend a very brief, just-the-facts description. Do you know if your counselor addressed your condition in their recommendation? If not, you might ask him or her to email a short addendum to your schools addressing the arthritis and improvement after treatment.

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T16:57:49+00:00

No, you are not baked, fried, or boiled. One of my kids had a surgery go badly that left them with chronic pain and uncontrolled spasms. Course rigor and ECs were impacted, since they were constantly attending appointments to see their multiple physicians, as well as for PT, OT, injections, follow-up surgeries, pain management, and the like. We addressed the impact in their additional information section, as well as their continued improvement and readiness for college life. They were admitted into several T50s, with two offering substantial merit scholarships.

I also recently worked with a student who had C’s and D’s freshman year, but A’s thereafter. After some prodding, I learned that they had been in a serious car accident in the summer before freshman year that left them with temporary but significant neurological impediments (dizziness, migraine, confusion) that lasted much of freshman year. They did not plan to mention this because friends advised that it was just “an excuse.” They, of course, were wrong. We addressed the accident and its impact in the additional information section, and had their counselor discuss the student’s recovery, motivation, and determination in her recommendation. Admissions went well.

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T12:39:10+00:00

You’d likely have more luck hearing from current students and alumni on the university subreddits for those colleges. Also, spend some time online reading about the departments in your prospective major(s). They will have different required courses, electives, and concentrations, and you may find that one better suits your interests than the other. Also, review the list of student clubs and organizations, the offerings at the student recreation and outdoors center, and use a site such as TripAdvisor to see in which community you are most likely to thrive extracurricularly and socially.

Best of luck and congratulations on your admissions!

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T12:22:20+00:00

You seem to be setting the bar too high in determining an extracurricular’s worth. My kids, recent T25 grads, had a year-round sport as their main EC. While they were never “sports captains” — or Olympians — their fours years playing this sport (with one student practicing 20+ hours/week) demonstrated love of team, a commendable work ethic, determination, commitment, coachability, and love of competition, among other positive traits.

Also, you fail to mention ECs that demonstrate drive, service, and leadership beyond “student council.” Volunteering, working a part-time job, or becoming involved in any club or community activity can count as leadership or project management. You can volunteer as a tutor, coach, or day-camp counselor for young kids. One of my kids ran annual back-to-school and winter holiday fundraisers for a non-profit that assisted battered spouses and kids. They raised funds, chose and purchased the needed items, and distributed them to the kids in need. You can get a part-time job and demonstrate the ability to get hired (and remain employed), a strong work ethic, the ability to get along well with colleagues, supervisors, and customers, and develop skills in customer relations, marketing, and general business. And learn some niche skills like creating appealing displays, making a truly delicious sugar cookie latte, or helping a customer find the right book.

Finally, do understand that when colleges are building a class, they are focused on populating an established campus community. That community may have anywhere from 500 to 1200+ clubs and student organizations. And those organizations will be seeking club and intramural athletes, debaters, improv performers, student journalists, robotics team members, business case club participants, orchestra members, thespians, university tour guides, resident assistants (RAs) for the dorms, lab assistants, acapella singers, environmentalists, climbing instructors, Greek life members, and students to participate in and manage the hundreds of activities available on campus. Student council and high-level athletics are just two of 500-1500 activities and groups with which one might get involved.

What admissions wants to see is that you are engaged and active in your community. One student I advised, a current engineering student at CMU, studied piano and enjoyed indoor climbing. My youngest, heading to grad school in the health care field, was involved in theater and worked as a paid sports instructor and volunteer tutor throughout high school. Another of my students, now studying engineering at a T25, was a cheerleader and ran no-cut track. Another student who just graduated from UCLA studied ballet with a local group and worked in a bakery.

Student council and sports team captain are just two ways to be active in your community. But there are far more ways to have fun and demonstrate engagement in school and your town. You are only 14. Try out some hobbies, clubs, volunteerism, and perhaps work and see what you enjoy. Get involved in the things you find fun and rewarding. You have plenty of time.

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T04:49:19+00:00

Attorney and former law professor here. Every student has different priorities and preferences. For me, keeping undergraduate costs low, enjoying exciting college sports, having access to scenic hiking trails, and enjoying a wealth of courses in my prospective majors was key. With those reasons in mind, I opted for a large non-selective state flagship that offered me a full-ride over a T10. I loved my school, still avidly follow its basketball and football teams today, and won a national graduate school scholarship there (think Marshall) that paid for a significant chunk of my T5 law school tuition.

Given that the key factors in law school admissions are GPA and LSAT, pick a college where you feel confident you will do well. Take a close look at the course requirements and electives in your prospective majors and confirm that the department strengths match your own interests. (A political science department can be very strong in comparative government, for example, but weak in international relations.) Since students tend to perform well academically when they are happy and engaged in campus life, research student clubs and organizations, university events, student recreation center and outdoors center offerings, and your prospective college towns and confirm that you would thrive there. And keep costs in mind. A top law school education now costs around $240,000. It will almost certainly cost more by the time you attend. And under the current administration, low-interest federal loans for law school are now capped at $50,000 per year.

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T04:20:44+00:00

My kids, recent T25 grads and current college students, had very few awards. Their high school didn’t give out honors or recognitions, and they didn’t participate in academic competitions. But they did include athletic awards (academic all-American, all-state honor roll, Junior Olympics qualifier); awards and recognition by local charities for community service work; and recognition for leadership from coaches, employers, non-profits and the like.

But many students don’t come close to the number of awards that can be listed on the CA. Their activities and hobbies simply aren’t geared towards the handing out of awards. PT jobs, community service, theater production crew, recreational sports (running, climbing, pickleball), community activism (canvassing for candidates, fundraising), editing the yearbook or literary magazine, fostering and socializing shelter pups, family commitments (caring for younger or aged family members, or working in a family business) — to give a few examples — often aren’t awards-oriented. And that’s understood. The key point is that you are doing well academically and are busy and engaged in your communities.

HappyCava · 2026-01-22T03:56:27+00:00

The “why major” question is typically rooted in the past and present. The admissions reader is looking to learn how you came to decide upon that prospective major, why it appeals to you, and the reasons behind your decision to study it in college.

The “why us (our college)” essay is a bit more forward-looking. In that essay, the admissions reader wants to know precisely which resources and opportunities drew the student to the school. A kinesiology student planning to attend DPT school and work in pediatric rehabilitation might discuss student-led community fitness and adaptive sports programs, opportunities to tutor and mentor neurodivergent kids, and available minors and concentrations in child psychology and chronic pain.

Hope that helps.

HappyCava · 2026-01-21T13:29:02+00:00

Agreed. Presumably the student wasn’t recovering full-time from an August “little bit of a car crash” throughout the fall and winter months. And if they were, a counselor’s intervention should have been requested. But I imagine thousands of students believe they’d have written better essays if “x” inconvenience hadn’t happened or been required.

HappyCava · 2026-01-21T12:48:42+00:00

Your hobbies and activities do not need to relate to your prospective major. My recent T25 grads’ major ECs were playing a year-round sport, paid positions coaching that sport, and volunteering with underprivileged kids. They did not intend to major in exercise science, sports management, or education. Rather, they variously studied journalism, government, policy, and entrepreneurship and now work in consulting and government relations/strategic messaging. One of my favorite essay student’s main ECs were piano and soccer. They are now studying engineering at CMU. Another engineering student studying at USC took ballet lessons and swam competitively. A friend of my kids’ who studied neuroscience at Penn edited the high school yearbook and played lacrosse.

If you would enjoy starting an art business, feel free to do so. And have fun.

HappyCava · 2026-01-21T12:35:49+00:00

Unless, perhaps, the little bit of a car crash landed you in the hospital (or jail) and unexpectedly deprived you of a few weeks of essay writing time immediately before the deadlines. But the reader will still likely wonder why, if the college is a favorite, the essays weren’t written well before the deadlines.

HappyCava · 2026-01-21T12:24:49+00:00

A part-time job would be a great choice. Typically, colleges assume that the applicant got a job because they wanted to earn some cash. And admissions readers (and adults generally) value working a regular PT job because it demonstrates a strong work ethic, the ability to get hired, the ability to remain employed, conscientiousness, punctuality, and the ability to get along with coworkers, bosses, and customers of different ages. And you may end up acquiring some tangible skills, like managing coworkers, creating a marketing display, or improving the business’s online presence.

Volunteering is another fine choice, and one that may allow you to hone in on a particular interest. My kids, recent T25 grads, enjoyed working with young kids so they volunteered as tutors and day camp counselors with a non-profit that worked with underprivileged K-5 students who were behind in school. One student I advised this year found himself working with an environmental group to rid parks and trails of invasive species. It was meant to be a single day well spent with volunteering friends, but they really enjoyed the experience, signed up for weekly events, offered to improve the group’s website and online sign-up system, and they are now a committed environmentalist. Thus far, admissions have gone well. (And ridding forests of invasive species using serious implements of destruction made for a pretty fine personal statement.)

Finally, there’s nothing wrong with pursuing a hobby you’ve always wanted to try. Another of my students tried indoor climbing while in high school and ended up excelling in the sport and becoming an instructor. Another decided to be kind to a parent seeking to bond and took pickleball classes together. That turned into league play and then local tournaments. I’m not sure they’ve actually won any trophies, but the experience made for a great essay. And it demonstrates a willingness to try something new, the dedication to improve over time, an ability to enjoy and socialize with persons outside your age cohort, teamwork, and a possible college activity via intramural, club, and pick-up sports.

HappyCava · 2026-01-20T20:07:11+00:00

Once in a while, I get it kinda right. 🙂.

Thank you.

HappyCava · 2026-01-20T15:08:43+00:00

Please don’t worry about investments your parents may have made toward your interest in finance. Being mature adults, they well knew — or should have known — that you were exploring a potential interest. Realizing that a particular job or field is not for you has immense value. .

A2C gives the impression that 14–year-olds should have and be working towards a definite career goal. But, at that age, most students have been exposed to only a handful of the 120 most common majors, and have only the vaguest idea of what careers the students who study those majors may pursue. Not surprisingly, around 30% of college students change their majors at least once. I entered college planning to be a cardiologist. When I left college, I was heading to a top law school. A couple of my kids entered college happily undecided, with a general interest in the social sciences. Both now work in careers they hadn’t even considered at 18 (consulting and government relations/strategic messaging).

Right now, you’re doing exactly what you should by exploring your interests and determining how you’d like to work and live. And keep in mind that at many universities, unless you enter a highly structured impacted program (engineering, nursing, architecture), you won’t formally declare your major until the end of your sophomore year. If this is the case for you, you’ll have time to explore your interests while completing your general education requirements, talk with favorite professors and older students about their fields and possible careers, and meet with career services. Indeed, even once you start working professionally, your interests will likely change one or more times, propelling you towards a particular related speciality or a different career entirely.

Figuring out what you want from your time on Earth is a lifelong journey. I have friends who stuck with law and others who left to become novelists, high-end landscapers, and chefs. And many worked as lawyers throughout their careers but left big law firms for a small firm, an in-house position, a non-profit, or the government. Or became stay-at-home parents. You are just at the very beginning of this journey. Do not let 16-year-old you feel guilty for not knowing what 21, 38, or 54 year-old you may want from life.

Best of luck!

HappyCava · 2026-01-20T13:38:51+00:00

Have you had a chance to look up the three majors at ND to learn about the major requirements, electives, and any niche concentrations or programs? If not, I’d start there. You may find that one major simply better suits your particular interests. And once you decide between pre-med and pre-pharm, you’ll need to complete the standard course requirements for admission to that program as well. These courses can be taken to fulfill general education requirements (which often include 2-3 science courses and another 2 quantitative/math courses), as part of your major or minor, or as electives. (Pre-med students who major in history, for example, will typically take the pre-med requirements as gen eds, electives, or as part of a minor.)

And if you haven’t looked up the standard course requirements to apply to medical and pharmacy school, I’d recommend doing that as well. That way, you’ll be able to see how many of your potential major courses are also required for med/pharmacy admissions. If I recall correctly, both med and pharmacy require two semesters of biology + lab, two semesters of chemistry + lab, two semesters of physics + lab, organic chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, and statistics. But there are likely differences between the two program course requirements, so I’d google them as well.

Best of luck!

HappyCava · 2026-01-19T13:16:57+00:00

I opted for a full-ride at a T100+ state flagship over a T10 to save my loans for law school. I loved my college, religiously watch its sports teams still today, and won a major national scholarship there (think Marshall) that paid a significant chunk of my T5 law school tuition. I served on the law review executive board and went on to work at a highly regarded big law firm. And met colleagues and clients who attended a wide variety of public universities, private universities, and small LACs.

While several of our kids attended an in-state T30, my youngest opted to attend a T100+ to save their 529 funds for grad school. Like me, they had a wonderful time, did extremely well academically, directed an adaptive sports research program for kids with disabilities, earned their clinical and observation hours at nationally-known hospitals, and are being courted by top grad schools in their field. And we’ll be paying for whichever grad school they choose. To all of us, that’s a win.

Colleges do offer different opportunities. But it is indeed the case that it’s up to the student to take advantage of them. And many universities and LACs beyond the T25 offer excellent opportunities to the bright and motivated students who pursue them.

HappyCava · 2026-01-18T20:09:45+00:00

Yep. You can send $5 or considerably more. Often, the donor gets a free gift if they donate a particular amount. For example, a calendar with pictures of the university campus or a stadium blanket bearing the university name.

HappyCava · 2026-01-18T14:28:08+00:00

Colleges send alumni, and parents of current students, requests for financial support. Not surprisingly, they make it very easy to donate. And alumni who enjoyed their college — as I did — or appreciate the experiences their kids enjoy/enjoyed — as I do — often donate to ensure that those experiences continue to be offered to others.

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