The part about College Applications NO ONE wants to talk about.

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Officially the time of the year when most of us know where we're going to college!



 College is stressful: no cap.
But what's equally more stressful is the process that builds up to getting into a good college.

Whether you're in the Indian education system or an international applicant, we all know that competition is getting tough.

Getting into a well-accredited college in India means 



and abroad:



But real talk: what happens AFTER the whole process?
After you commit to a school?

I like to phrase this feeling as Tun-tun mausi ke taane.
Why?

Because no matter what you do or where you end up - there's always someone to talk bad behind your back, nullify your hard work or simply claim, "Oh I'm better." 
In the case of college apps, this is manifested by googling the acceptance rate.

Let me draw you a picture:
Person A gets into an Ivy League/IIT, person B is at a good college and person C got into a local/community college.
It's been ingrained in our system that we have to look down upon Person C and consider ourselves better if we're in situations A or B (don't deny - you & I both do this)
But what you and I don't do is consider the background.

Person C could be struggling with a terminal illness and the fact that they ended up getting into a college could be such a big deal.
Person B could be the valedictorian but not be able to afford a better college.
Person A might experience the FOMO being rejected by the "top ivy's" and settling for the "lower".

Any of them could have ended up where they did for so many reasons: Family status, financials, the fact that they might be an international student, visas,  or that they might have been ill when taking the exam. So many people I know simply google the acceptance rate and reject the fact that the program could be one of the best in the country even if the school isn't. 

Person C could be thriving at their school whereas person A could be struggling: what they thought made them unique in their own high school was simply "normal" in their new environment.

People are so quick to judge another person that no matter the redemption arc, the image of that person always remains the same. Case in point:

Situation

The “Gifted” kid

The “Average” kid

The “Dumb” kid

You get into a top college: no one counts the years of effort and sacrifices

Oh, this was expected, they’ve “always” been smart.

WHAAAT? No way. Damn okay

Pakka cheated/ Legacy.

You get into an okay-ish college: no one considers your circumstances

No way; this person could do better.

Eh expected.

Okay nice I guess they had connections.

You go to a Community college/Local school

Bruh this person DOWNGRADED bad.

I’m not too surprised.

Lol expected

This blog is something I needed to hear 4 months ago and one I hope most of you resonated with.

This blog was a 100% inspired by a real-life incident: I spent a few weeks at Harvard 2 years ago and am now headed to Boston U for my undergrad. No one counts the number of hours I spent on apps, the fact that I got into their Honors college - they only google the acceptance rate, find a difference of 7% and jump to their conclusion: "lol HARVARD to BU?  She dipped bad."

People will always find reasons to ridicule your success - don't let them have that satisfaction by succumbing to their sayings.
You end up where you end up because of what YOU do. Don't let someone shame you for being or not being number one.

(In fact, sometimes, it's better to be no. 2. It helps you push yourself to no. 1.) 

If you liked today's blog, don't forget to drop your experience in the comments below and share & follow for more content, every second Friday of the Month!

Signing off,
Kuhu :)

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