If you’ve been rejected from a school, how did you cope with it? I got my first rejection today (which I somewhat expected) from one of my top schools, and it just feels…strange…in a bad way. The rejection letter did offer some consoling words, but I still can’t get rid of this feeling of inadequacy/disappointment. It now feels like I’m not going to get into any other colleges. :(Anyone have any advice on how to get past this stage in this college process?
When life hands a lemon…
It’s NEVER fun to be turned down, and the feeling you’re experiencing, esthetique, is a grief reaction. Very similar to a death notification of sorts. “Feeling strange” is how a lot of people would describe it.
It’s what you’ll do with this that will make all the difference. Focus on the door or doors that open. This is just around the corner. Then do something wonderful there. Your revenge will be the success you will turn this into.
Because rejection is part of the past of every single successful person I’ve ever met. It’s how one reacts to getting this punch that differentiates us.
Actually, I generated the same feeling. When I realized that I was rejected by Tulane University; I did feel that I had lost my last chance to attend any colleges I applied( I was not seclected as the applicant who is eligible to Tulane, still, I don’t know why). However, I introspected myself. I clearly understand that I should not reject myself even though every college would not matriculate me. Application to college is a small part our experience in our whole life. We should, on the contrary, be sanguine all the time.
Hi! Buddy, cheer up! Good luck to ur application!
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I cried.
Got really ****ed since my friend got into the school when she didn’t deserve it; she had her mom help her like woah, like in a way that is behind the typical helicopter-parent.
I got down on myself, feeling like I’m not good enough. Felt horrible because all I could think of was that my friend got in because her mother is over-bearing, while I got rejected because my mom’s an alcoholic and takes no interest in my life… But that’s a whole other issue.
In the end, I burned the letter (very cathartic) and realized that to the school I applied to, I was just ANOTHER Boston kid applying (the school’s in Boston) and that they were probably looking for more diversity.
I got into my top choice though, which is nice.
My advice? Just relax. You’ve sent in your application, supplements and everything. The balls are in the courts of the colleges and there’s no point in stressing yourself out over something that you can no longer control.
I didn’t get rejected from any schools, but I got waitlisted by a bunch, which felt just as bad. The first one I got, I felt pretty . . . well, rejected. The second one, I cried, because it was my top choice. The third and the fourth, I just felt frustrated.
It was a little easier because I got an acceptance before any of the WL notes came. If that hadn’t have happened, I would have been freaking the F out.
I realized I had a bunch of applications to fill out after I was rejected! I feel it will all work out in the end! It will for you also 
Oh man, I got rejected through a phone call. It shouldn’t have bothered me since the college has made it mandatory for freshmen to dorm. But I think out of everyone I was the only one to get rejected :/.
To that school I mean
I cried. For a long time. And then sat on the couch for three hours and watched criminal minds. I think what sucked the most for me is that earlier in the week I got deferred from my top choice (which thankfully I wound up getting into), and my best friend got into that school; which she hated. Then, four days later, I got my first rejection letter, from a school that I wouldn’t have minded going to, and my best friend got in; once again, she hated the school. I think it was all just bad timing for me. But everyone told me it would all work out in the end, and thankfully, it has!
Thanks all for sharing your opinions/stories/advice! They’re all AMAZING. Because of you guys, I don’t feel like i’m dying in hopelessness. I’ll admit, after i got rejected, i still felt a little bit dejected because my friend–whose going to a school near the one i want–reminds me of the school i’d like to go to and hence my rejection. However, after reading this thread, I’m going to move on. Like 205mom said, i’m not going to take rejection as an obstacle and an aggressor in my life. I’m going to look past this and turn my rejection(s) into revenge; I will work hard to become a successful person regardless of what school i go to. Because it is what i can do with what i have that creates success, not what I need. Once again, thank you all, you are all amazing. And for those who are like me, I wish you the best of luck and happiness at the school that you will ultimately attend.
This is very encouraging considering sometimes I feel like I’ll get rejected from all 9 I’m applying to…
More stories please (:
During high school, I applied to multiple universities, but only wanted to go to two of them. In fact at the time, I didn’t know what I wanted to go for (one day I wanted to be a pharmacist, the next day I wanted to do medical technology, to who knows what). As it went, I got rejected from both universities I wanted to go to. I got accepted to the others, but most of them had very limited majors. One of the universities I was accepted to accepted me as a math major. No offense to any math majors, but I wasn’t really interested in it.
So I decided to go to community college instead. It has worked out well. I worked my um…butt off, and have a very high GPA. Also, since my time at community college, I have decided what I want to become/major in. I will not be aimlessly applying to transfer to universities now. I also joined a few honor societies, beefed up my extra-curriculars, got my first job, and did a lot of growing up. In fact, I am so much of a stronger applicant now that when I transfer to an university soon I will likely get great scholarship packages (which I wouldn’t have been able to have gotten back then). It has worked out well, and I think the two rejections may have helped me (as silly as that may sound).
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. It’s never easy to be told “you’re out”, but if you use it as the inspiration for success, you will be happy in the end. Believe me, their is no one college. You have options.
@Not1stmeanslast - my friend had a very similar situation with a community college. it really is not a bad route to take. sure, you will not get the “college experience” as much, but it is really easy to transfer to your desired universities after one or two years in the community college (at least for most).
I got my first rejection after applying ED to WashU. I (and everyone I had talked to) had been pretty sure I’d get in, or at least get deferred. To get rejected was basically a slap in the face. I checked quite a few times to make sure I hadn’t read the letter wrong, then settled into the reality of the situation. I was pretty angry and upset for a couple of days, but then just distracted myself with schoolwork and my ECs while I waited for the rest of my decisions.
The rejection convinced me to apply to three more reach schools that had just missed my initial list.
Occasionally I remind myself that if I’m successful enough, I’ll be donating to wherever I do end up going, and anyone who rejected me will have missed an opportunity xD.
My advice for rejections is to occupy yourself with other things to keep your mind off it, apply to some more matches and reach schools if there’s still time when you get the decision, and convince yourself that it’s their own loss they didn’t let you in.
I put a bag over my head, tied my foot to a rope and tied the other end of that rope to a cement block and jumped into the deep end of my pool.
Thankfully, I wimped out and tried to stay afloat, I barely did and then my mobster, overweight dad found out, jumped into the pool and pulled me out.
For those who get the reference: Grats.
Just have a good cry,then forget about it is my advice
I had ONE university that I loved. I visited, stalked the website, etc. for hours. I applied ED, and I figured they would see how much I loved the school and let me in. I didn’t get rejected, but I did get deferred. I was pretty sure it was the end of the world. I sat on my couch and bawled for hours. I experienced the exact same feelings you were talking about. It was strange, like the end of a dream. I thought no one would accept me. I thought the one deferral meant that I was awful. I cried for hours because I didn’t think I had the strength to fill out one more application.
But a few days later I realized how silly I was being. Being deferred from ED gave me a chance to try my luck at other schools without even being really rejected by the first. The second round of applications was tough, but I was determined to prove to every other school that I’m not a deferral candidate.
And guess what? After I finished up apps, I felt really happy about the work I’d done. I’d applied to one school on a whim, not expecting to even get in, but I’ve actually received a likely letter. This school is actually ranked a lot higher than my ED school, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to go there whether my ED accepts me or not. It’s as much a fit for me as my ED was, and I’m really excited by the prospect of being there! It’s strange to think that something that I really thought was the end of my application process opened up such a huge door for me.
Now, I’m ready for rejections. Most of the schools I applied to accept <15% of applicants. I know there will be some rejections in my mailbox. But I also know that there will be at least one acceptance to somewhere I will really be blessed to be. And it wouldn’t have been possible without that first deferral!
There’s a lot of “rejections” of famous people who were told they didn’t have whatever it took (musicians, actors etc who went on to be very successful). I keep telling myself this!!! I have a few reach schools that are sure to be rejections so I’m trying to prepare myself…but you never know if you don’t try…give yourself credit for trying!
I took it all in stride. There were so schools that I wish I could’ve gotten into, but I applied to 20 so it wasnt as painful. In hind sight, I got into my top school and I’m very happy here. We can’t win them all.
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