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Chidick said his first-choice school is The College of New Jersey but he has not heard back yet.

\"My mom is really happy,\" he added. \"I get home around 5 [p.m.] and she's standing near the mailbox waiting to get the letters. She's excited because we went through a really tough time.\"

\"PHOTO:
Courtesy Dylan Chidick
PHOTO: Dylan Chidick , 17, of N.J., recently got accepted to 17 colleges.
>

Chidick will graduate high school this June. He hopes to achieve a law degree and have a career in politics someday.

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