<p>My in-laws didn't want to talk to the college about the rejection. They didn't think it would work and they didn't want to think it would work, that the college they loved would change course from an attempt to pull strings. The college made the decision it made and they thought they just had to move on. They aren't the type to try to pull strings and only answered the questions on the application about legacy status because it asked.</p>
<p>It may make a difference that my niece can study what she is interested in at any number of places. So she couldn't show an overall need to attend any particular school or a reason why a particular place would be the best fit. My daughter has very specialized interests that can't be met at many different schools. Her background, transcript, recommendations, and essays were distinctive. This didn't work everywhere, but it happened to work at the places she applied that happened to be (probably) the best fits for her. So the places she wasn't admitted weren't for her to begin with. (At least in retrospect it seems that way!)</p>
<p>My niece ended up at a nice school that she likes and is small enough to have small classes and give her a lot of personal attention in her field (art). So really things do work out. I don't want to leave the implication that her personality is somehow off -- she is a great person, makes friends easily, etc.</p>