>>9697225DESU I didn't really expect to get into any good schools. I was pretty much in a leadership role in every school club we had. Regularly set the precedent for years to come. Something like five/six different clubs with me as the lead. Also active in a few more where I wasn't. Active on a sports team. Perfect GPA, 1st in class, perfect ACT, etc etc.
My real downfall was that I'm from the middle of fucking nowhere. Even though I have written my own research papers, been as active as possible in the community etc, there just isnt ANYTHING to do here. No science olympiads, no nearby universities, nothing. I tried to get things implemented but there just was no take. Very conservative rural town. Not very many intelligent people. No one wanted any of that.
Pretty sure the only reason I got into Cornell is because I wrote an incredible essay pretty much describing all of that stuff. I wasn't too surprised to get rejected from Caltech, even though it hurt like a bitch. Spent four years working my ass off for that goal just for it to go nowhere. I didn't apply to MIT.
I'm happy though. Cornell has an incredibly rigorous UG physics program. I'd wager only Caltech beats it, and only a few more challenge it.
