Our household is in a daze right now. I don't post much but needed to vent. We're just trying to process the bad news.

Here's our son's "stats": 3.77 GPA, 34 ACT. School with 2000 enrollment in metro Atlanta. SGA (Student Government Assoc) all four years. Elected Junior class president. Elected Senior class president and student body president. Freshman football player. 4 year wrestler. Varsity wrestling team captain and state qualifier. Mastery Orchestra (highest of four orchestras at his school). 2 year member of the Interact club (school service organization). He was chosen as one of the school's outstanding seniors by the faculty (combination of academics, leadership, and service) and elected "Most Dependable" by his peers. 11 AP classes. Eagle Scout. Early morning seminary graduate to be. Part time job at local pizza place. 1 of 4 students from his school selected to join the Atlanta Braves Leadership Council (where he distinguished himself by winning a $1000 award).

I wrongly assumed he was a shoo-in. I feel terrible for him. He is crushed. Just crushed. We are a true blue household. Both my wife and I graduated from BYU. Many of his cousins on both sides of the family have gone or are there now. His numbers are better than those of his cousins who are currently enrolled at BYU (those from GA and those from other states out west). Many of our family trips have involved BYU in some way. He and I traveled down to New Orleans for the LSU game. We've followed the Cougars to Tallahassee, Murfreesboro, Cincinnati, GA Tech. We've spent countless hours gathering with family on Saturdays to watch our Cougars play. We wear blue. Always. My boys (he's the oldest of three sons and one daughter) wear their Cougar gear with pride everywhere, through thick and thin, no matter the outcomes on Saturdays. Someone from our family is reppin' the Y almost every day here in GA.

I feel terribly guilty. We've intentionally and unintentionally steered him towards BYU since he was an infant (while my wife and I were still at BYU). We've talked up BYU and sung its praises his whole life. I can't imagine the disappointment he's feeling right now. I'm sure he feels he's let us down. We've assured him that we couldn't be prouder of him; that if he still wants to attend BYU down the road that things will work out; that if he never wants to hear "BYU" again that that's just fine too. He's an awesome kid and is going to be successful wherever he goes to school and whatever he chooses to do with his life. That doesn't make things hurt any less right now, but he's going to be ok.

I don't know what BYU is looking for. What more do they want?! I guess we could have counseled him to not take so many AP classes and bump up his GPA. However, according to the scholarship matrix, even with the little bit lower 3.77 unweighted GPA he was still in line for a half tuition scholarship with his ACT score (or so I thought). I love that place and everything that it did for me in my life. Right now, in this moment, I'm hot. In a day or two I will be fine. I'm the type that if I get rejected I take more of an attitude of "if you don't want me then I don't want you" and I don't look back. We've told him that he took a tough one on the chin today, but now he has a chance to see how he will respond. BYU or no BYU, he has an amazing life ahead of him. Again, that doesn't help today, but hopefully it will tomorrow and the next day.

I am so very happy for all those students who were accepted. I don't begrudge anyone their spot. I sincerely mean that. But as I've perused the board and viewed many of the "stats" of those who were accepted, I can't help but feel a little salty towards the admissions office right now. He will be fine. Life goes on. With the right attitude this disappointment can turn out to be a wonderful blessing to him. He's a great kid, just like the thousands of other kids who are either celebrating or hurting today. But my heart goes out to those who didn't get the news they were hoping for. It's going to be ok.