Dealing With Rejection From Colleges

With college acceptances just beginning to come out, a lot of excitement is in the air for high school seniors. However, dealing with rejection from colleges is also an important thing to be aware of. It is possible that you may not be accepted to every school you applied to, especially when it comes to “reach schools.” It can be disappointing and very difficult to deal with these rejections, but it is necessary to remain positive and not let this get you down!

Rather than focusing on the rejections you have received, focus on the acceptances. It is likely that you will have far more acceptances than rejections, especially if you applied to a wide range of schools.Think about how many schools want you to attend their college or university rather than dwelling on the few who don’t. These schools see something in you that makes them think you would be a strong contributor to their institution, so keep your head held high. Your hard work has been recognized by some schools and they are excited to have you as a prospective student.

Not being accepted to a certain school does not change who you are or decrease your value as a person! The Admissions Office does not know you personally, and your rejection letter is not an attack against who you are. Making admissions decisions is a complicated science, and if you were not accepted to a school, the reasons may never be known to you. Your rejection may have come as a result of limited space available in the incoming class. With more and more students applying to colleges, there is a decreasing amount of space for universities to accept new ones. Try not to torture yourself by wondering what you could have done differently or what prompted this rejection letter. This will only leave you more upset over something which you can’t control.

Remember that being rejected from a school once is not the end. While this may mean you will not be able to attend immediately, as you might have hoped, you can always reapply. Transferring to a different college or university is a path which many people choose to follow. Doing a year or two at another institution may help get your grades up, and show that you can succeed in a college setting. Although you will have to begin the application process completely over again, if you truly have your heart set on one school, this is an option which should be explored.

While a rejection letter is hardly pleasant, it is also not the end of the world. Take some time to grieve, but eventually, it is necessary to push through. Explore other options such as going to another school and transferring, attending another school altogether, or taking some time to figure out what is best for you. Wherever you do end up, what will determine how successful you are is your hard work and dedication.

Amanda De Moraes

Boston Tutoring Services