yes, this was a mistake. This was not a conversation for the OP to have with the rep himself. That was futile and embarrassing. Of course the answer to that question is going to be no, duh. I am disappointed he did not take the good advice about how to proceed. Having someone call on his behalf would possibly yield good information for next round. Perhaps he had other things in his application that showed a lack of good sense.
OP now is the time to finish college. If you start working and do well and continue and you will find like many others that there is a ceiling as to how far you can go. Sometimes that comes 15 years later. I know many people who became unpromotable in their business because of lacking a degree and then were stuck with families and mortgages and little way to finish off the last couple of years. It can be done but it is harder, and you choices where you can go limited.