>I won't go into details on why students don't get in but the worst calls are from the parents who care way too much for students that usually take it in stride. Of course, there are students that go from bummed to devastated and they can tug at you on the inside but it is hard to empathize with an unreasonable parent who won't listen to the facts.
>

My dad is kind of like that. I applied to the Smittcamp Honors College at Fresno State Univeristy in November. Smittcamp gives 75 students free tuition, money towards books, a dorm, etc., etc. The minimum SAT score to apply was like 1250. Mine was 1310, plus I have a GPA of 3.66, so I gave it a shot and filled out their form (and two humongous essays). Everything went OK, until I got to the part about work experience, high school activities, and sports. Being homeschooled in a VERY rural area, all of these were impossibilities for me, so I left the entire page blank.

Last month, I got a letter saying I had been turned down. Naturally, I was disappointed, but Dad was upset. He called Smittcamp and found out I had been rejected (basically) because I didn't play a sport, wasn't involved in class activites, and/or didn't have a job. Never mind that the average SAT score of those students admitted to the honors program was 1120. (I still don't get why they would take someone who has been involved in extracurricular activities over one who gets good grades--it *is* an Honors College, after all.) But anyway, Dad keeps calling people and sending e-mails, even though I've told him it's OK (getting a chance to be on the equestrian team more than makes up for it ;-)) and I don't really care anymore. They didn't even have that many classes, and I'm kind of afraid he'll make me some enemies. *Sigh* I just keep praying it'll all work out for the best.

> Fer"Boo Hoo"rick

La"Not to mention I found three grammatical errors in the letter from the *president* of Smittcamp"Zorra