I feel like this needs to be discussed more on CC since every year there are so many wonderful students here that are rejected from the college of their dreams and then unfortunately start doubting themselves and their abilities. This thread was created to dispense advice and encouragement to those students, especially from people who have been in their shoes, and to bolster the community of support for one another, not only when we are applying to colleges, but also when we get our decisions. It’s very hard to be rejected when you feel like you’ve worked the past four years relentlessly for that magical acceptance letter that never comes.
I have a very bad feeling about a rejection coming later today, so here’s what I’m doing to relieve the stress:
Online shopping for my dorm room (!)
Talking with my friends about things other than college
Making healthy smoothies
Believing that my future in college is what I determine it to be, and not letting my college decision determine me
After I receive whatever decision may come, I will:
Remember that if I can’t attend, it’s because someone else who will thrive there can attend
Remember that this is not a referendum on me, my personality, my accomplishments, etc.
Remember that transferring or grad school is always an option in the future!
Thank everyone (teachers, counselor, parents, etc.) who have helped me along the way and given me the support I needed in the college application process
Cry, if need be
Go out for ice cream
Be thankful that CC is like a weird club where we all understand one another and want the best for each other but also are super nervous and stressed out together; honestly I don’t know how people managed college decisions before the Internet
Remember that there have been THOUSANDS of people before me who have felt the pain that I feel but have decided that pain was not worth ruining their college endeavors and have long gotten over it OR remember that many people are feeling the sting of rejection while I have an acceptance and thus I need to be a polite and sensitive while encouraging them to move forward and love the college that loves them.
Does anyone else have any other advice? What are you guys doing to manage stress and keep self-confidence up when you are handed a denial letter?
It’s so much harder for kids now with soooo many apps being put in to all these schools. You just have to remember there will also be ppl rejected that you will think are perfect. So it’s not a personal judgement. It’s more and more looking a smidge random!
Know that you should never let your self-worth be determined by a group of college admission officers. Appreciate and enjoy your acceptances and remember how many people would love the opportunity to attend college in the US.
Save the paper letters and have your friends do the same. Have a bonfire and burn them. Toast marshmallows on it, and talk about the good things about the schools you will be attending.
What always helps me is to think about how there are so many successful people out there who didn’t go to some amazing college. Some didn’t even go to college at all. If you put your mind to it you can accomplish almost anything.
Realize that you may actually hate the place you thought you wanted to go. Rejections happen more often from higher tier places and I definitely think we get caught up in the name sometimes. Like when you buy really fancy chips or something and it doesn’t even taste better but it was like two bucks more. At the end of the day, there are downsides to those types of places too (even if you get good FA). Almost any college acceptance can bring excitement and send you to a nice place. Unless you had no acceptances then that’s really hard to live down lol.
Thank you so much! @mom2collegekids I hope this thread is still helpful for students waiting on decisions because I still believe it’s necessary for CC to discuss the importance of not letting our self-esteem hinge on what adcoms think of us. I made it before Duke decisions came out last night and I was feeling really down after reading the released admissions statistics.
I was reading the news and saw a story about JK Rowling’s recent twitter post, where she shared two of her rejection letters. I think it’s a lovely reminder about perseverance from a beloved author of this generation. http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35899243
