Did you feel like a failure after you were rejected from your first choice schools?

<p>I did, and I sunk into a depression that I still haven't gotten out of. I knew that the schools I wanted to go to were long shots, I knew that my credentials were not flawless, but having been a top student all my life, I thought I was destined to end up enrolled at a top school. Then the small envelopes came in the mail, one by one, and when the last one came in, that was it, my brain chemistry totally changed. I mean, I understood that the odds of my getting accepted to my first choice schools were low, but at the same time I sort of went through a period of denial after reality knocked on my door. Perhaps I didn't go through a period of denial as much as I went through a period of mourning during which I thought to myself that perhaps I would have been better off living with the illusion that, perhaps, if I had not applied to those schools, perhaps I wouldn't have been rejected..</p>

<p>You make it sound like you got rejected from all your schools, which probably didn't happen. And how many first-choice schools did you have? If you were so indiscriminate towards your 'first-choice schools,' obviously none of them stood out that much to you.</p>

<p>In December I found out I was rejected from my early school, and I was sort of depressed about that for awhile but then I got good news at the end of March. At the end of the storm there will be a rainbow; you just have to wait it out til then.</p>

<p>pmvd, I think you and InnovativeBoxx should room together.</p>

<p>^ I second that.</p>

<p>I ended up at my safety school. Initially I hated it, but now (currently a junior) I'm actually very glad I ended up here instead of my other choices.</p>

<p>I got rejected from all my colleges last year. I'm in my gap year now. It's defo depressing at first, but you get over it, and now I can almost laugh about it. :)</p>

<p>I ended up at my safety, too (mostly for financial reasons, but I did get rejected from most of my other choices). I decided to make the best of it and I've been really enjoying myself at the safety university. Even better, I'm going to graduate debt-free and I'm not putting a lot of strain on my parents in the bad economy. I'm really pleased to be going here, in hindsight. </p>

<p>Rejection is depressing, but you can turn any situation into something good if you put your mind to it.</p>

<p>I think a lot of people need to learn 2 lessons</p>

<ol>
<li><p>High school is stupid- people judge "intelligence" based on your grades, how much you don't study in order to get good grades, and which colleges you get into. If you have spent at least a year in college, you realize that these things don't mean jack.</p></li>
<li><p>Everybody and their moms apply to elite schools. They get solid applications from URMS, jocks, academics, rich people, poor people, etc. That means if they want to boost their academic stats, they can let in some high SAT / GPA kids. If they want money, they can let in some wealthy kids. If they want diversity, they can let in some URMS. Because they have such a wide choice of applicants, they can literally accept whoever they want. Many people can't seem to understand that. Harvard had almost 30k applicants this year, they can literally accept whoever they want to create their perfect incoming class. Many state schools lack this choice- hence why they default on GPA/grades because academics is the very foundation in which a school is based on. Top schools have enough applicants with solid grades, so they can accept applicants that are good in other fields. Many of these fields, like your race, location, family income, and gender are out of your control.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>^^^
i agree with #1</p>

<p>Let me give you my story:</p>

<p>I went to a very prestigious college preparatory school and got deferred and then rejected from my dream school that i wanted to go to my entire life (Michigan). Went to the University of Arizona for freshman year (last year), worked hard first semester, and got accepted to Michigan as a transfer. My parents however didnt want to pay the outrageous out of state tuition to Michigan so they basically made me go to Butler University in Indianapolis. I dislike it here and am becoming so isolated that ive just decided to go back home (San Antonio, Texas) to finish college at UTSA. I feel like such a failure because I go from being accepted to one of the best universities in the country to on the verge of going to UT-San Antonio all in the span of a year</p>

<p>Example Me:</p>

<p>I got rejected to ALL UCs I applied to </p>

<p>UCI (my top school)
UC Santa Barbara
UC Davis</p>

<p>I only got admitted to University of La Verne, but it was way expensive</p>

<p>so I took a year to go volunteer in medicine in Mexico</p>

<p>and now Im applying to UCLA, UCI, UCB and UCR
already got into UCR</p>

<p>the thing for me is that I DIDNT PAY THE FEES (i had no money)
and my SAT IIs didnt arrive on time</p>

<p>it was UTTERLY depressing</p>

<p>Ha! got rejected from two of my schools, NO safety schools....Just now applying. Depressed? Heck no, their loss. </p>

<p>Wipe the milk off your lips and realize you dont get what you want</p>

<p>I already got rejected from 3 of my schools for financial reasons amongst which was my first choice ED college!! All the colleges that can give me aid are reaches. I have practically given up and will probably be attending a college in my own country. What depresses me is all the money I spent on applications, scores, tests, and all that. I don't know how to get over this depression!</p>

<p>I was rejected by my first choice, UVA last March. I was very disappointed and decided to go to my second choice, JMU which was also one of my safety schools. </p>

<p>Now I'm very grateful to having been denied to UVA as it has given me the chance to be here at JMU where I have meet so many great people and have had just a wonderful time!</p>

<p>It may seem like the end of the world when you don't get into your first choice but keep your head high and pick a school from your list of acceptances that seems like the best fit. Most likely you will love the school and if not you can transfer. </p>

<p>Good luck and just remember to give your second choice a fair chance! :)</p>

<p>UCB and UCI are my other choices</p>

<p>as long as u get in somewhere theres no worries..youll always have fun/get a decent education at most schools..and u just need to keep working</p>

<p>I know it is hard not to be depressed, it feels like something is wrong with you. But it isn't, they can't really get to know you from a piece of paper. One thing I've learned from reading a lot of the posts here is that you really do end up where you belong. Chances are you will love your safety school and wonder why you even applied to the others. Or you will decide you really do want to go for it and make top grades where you are and re-apply next year. Whatever you decide will be the right path for you and get you where you are supposed to be. It is so hard the first few days/weeks. But like most disappointments will hurt a little less every day.</p>

<p>I think when u REALLY believe u'll get in to a school (like u work so hard at it)</p>

<p>and then u get rejected, that's when it feels horrible</p>

<p>Yeah. You put so much ... everything into it and then u get rejected. When I got the reject I was depressed, but now I am frantic; I am not sure whether any college would accept me at all. People here at CC tell me that my stats are not enough for my need. That's what is worrying be badly here.</p>

<p>what's your stats and for what school?</p>

<p>I'm on a long reach situation (go read my post called "A Strange Case OF Admission" on this section)</p>

<p>I'm applying for TOP UC's with a good GPA, good SAT IIs, but OK SAT and OK ACT </p>

<p>Grea APs, tons of awards, </p>

<p>and over 1,000 hours of community service</p>

<p>however, my below average SAT I score is an nerv-wracking to me that I'm appying to UCLA</p>

<p>f I had an 1,800 or above I would feel better</p>

<p>but It's not that good.</p>

<p>I just hope I get in, I know they've accepted kids with stats as low as SAT I 1,400 and low GPA's to the 3.4</p>