Rejection season hit hard, what now?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello CC, this will be one of my first posts here as I have been a long time lurker picking up the valuable information thqat you all have throughout my process.

Unfortunately, I have hit a very rough patch and am reaching out for help from you all.

To tell you a little about myself without revealing too much, I’m a current senior and future class of 2020 student.
I live a little outside of St. Louis, Missouri. A lover of life, adventure, and changing the world.

Essentially, I was wrong and ineffably overestimated myself. I had applied to a handful of schools and rejections have been the recurring theme these last days. Given my financial situation, I had focused on applying 100% need met schools. My EFC was about 9K and that is basically what I can afford. I have been denied from Northwester, Wash U, ND, and Tulane. Still waiting to hear from Stanford and Vandy. I shot way too big and openly admit that. I refuse to let anything outside of me determine my worth, but Its been humbling to say the least.

As of right now, I had been accepted to St. Louis U & Loyola Chicago with half scholarships but cannot afford the remaining 20k+, Truman state university where I would only pay ~2k but be miserable, and the U of Missouri where I would pay about 9k, my most likely choice as of now. I planned my safeties horribly and simply don’t see myself enjoying any of the two. I can only blame myself for this.

As humbly as I can say this, I thought I had crafted a convincing resume & application. The TL;DR version includes: 32 ACT, 4.4 GPA (3.9 UW), Moderate course load, (Only 3 APs by this year with 3 5’s), Eagle Scout w. leadership positions, Varsity Basketball and Volleyball 3 yrs. team captain for 2 years, Senior class president with aide to our principal, FBLA & DECA chapter president w competing and placing at the national level, leader of pep club and student sections for sports I don’t play, and lots of community service. It doesn’t quite all make sense but I wouldn’t go back and change doing things I love and leading for anything else.

I am just so lost on where to go now, like I said I don’t see myself happy at my safeties but will still go and make the most of it.

Do any of you have insight to any schools still taking applications that would give generous aid? Or any other possibilities?
I want to do big, meaningful things and would be open to anything from going international to helping countries overseas.

Thank you so much in advance for your help at this tough time.

2

Are you open to taking a gap year?

3

If you make the most of it, then you will be happy. You just don’t see it now, but trust me, you’ll see it then.

You sound terrific, don’t change! Continue to excel. Be who you want to be!

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I am open to the possibility, but extremely unsure how to go about it or what it would mean? Delaying life for a whole year while everyone is off beginning theirs sounds daunting at first thought…

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RockerDad, Thanks for the kind words, I truly appreciate them! Do you have personal experience with the state school instead of a desired public out of curiousity?

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What is wrong with Truman State or University of Missouri?

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OP, you sound like an amazing person! I’m sorry you’re having the results you’ve experienced. Have you visited your Truman State and Missouri since you were admitted? You might be surprised at how you feel about each of them.
I agree with CRD that you would be able to make the most of either one. Good luck -

Edited - just wanted to add that I’m impressed by your maturity - saying that you’ve “hit a rough patch” is a very healthy way to look at it. College admissions are NOT an indicator of your worth. You sound like you have what it takes to bloom where you are planted.

8

What is your major?

Can you do an overnight at Truman? My neice and nephew really liked/like it, but I can see how it wouldn’t work for others.

Many, many students are not accepted at the schools that rejected you. I am sorry you are disappointed. College admissions seem brutal to me.

U Missouri might be just fine in the long run. Can you go to an admitted students day there, too?

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You reached for the stars and didn’t quite get there. Give yourself credit for trying. It could easily have gone the other way - your stats, ECs, etc. are all perfectly “within the range” - It’s just that the whole process is such a crap shoot. You never know. In hindsight, maybe a few more “match” schools would have made sense - but hindsight is useless (for you at least) right now. Are all of your results in??? If so, you’ve got two options:

  1. pick a safety (Missouri?) and make the most of it. Do not go in planning to transfer, but keep that option in your back pocket. If you excel first semester (which you most likely will if you give it your all) and are not happy, then put transfer apps out for sophomore year.

  2. take a gap year - that takes planning to make it “meaningful” though - and there’s no guarantee results won’t be the same next year.

Good luck - and let us know what you decide.

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I have heard good things about Truman State! It’s in The Princeton Review’s Best 380 Colleges (read the review!) and a college professor friend of mine who is also researching colleges and universities for his kids said this about it: “a surprising, super high quality public liberal arts school that is one of best priced schools in the country for out of state.” (we are out of state)

It sounds like the professors are nurturing yet challenging, students work hard, and there is an honors program. Small classes, about 6,000 students, including a sizable international population, and 50 majors to choose from. Nice looking campus. Could be a lot worse!

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Also, something to think about- work hard at your safety and then transfer. Obama started at Occidental and transferred to Columbia. Good luck!

12

FYI-there is an annual list of schools with space on May 1 I believe. You may want to look at the list from last year and see if any school appeals to you since the same schools may also have spots this year.
Otherwise, the school doesn’t define you. Many amazing and successful people didn’t go to Stanford or Harvard. You can still attend one of the schools for a year and try to transfer or you may end up loving the school you attend.
Some schools have honors programs also that may be something you would like. Have you looked into an honors program at the schools which admitted you? I agree that you should try to visit these schools and see what they have to offer.

“You don’t always get what you want but if you try sometime, you just may find you get what you need” (Mick Jagger and Keith Richards)

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A gap year might make more sense for the OP because of the need for a lot of financial aid. Transfer students often do not receive the same financial aid as freshmen.

14

Honestly, Wash U, ND and Northwestern are reaches for most. But it is surprising that you were denied at Tulane. With your stats, you should have been in the running for a nice merit award. Can you have your gc make an inquiry there for a possible appeal?

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Tulane denies tons of people with these stats.
I think Truman State is a great option for you–my D (OOS) really liked it. You have to be willing to be in a small town though, looks like you mostly applied to urban places. I would go to Truman and Missouri for a visit.
University of Kansas might be a option still?

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If you are willing to consider a gap year, you can check through these threads for places where you would be guaranteed significant merit-aid, or be a reasonable candidate for significant merit-aid. That would give you some out of state options.
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/

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You sound like a good kid. I know you’re disappointed, but Truman and Mizzou are both great options. Revisit and see which you prefer. You do still have a choice. With the money saved, you’ll be able to study abroad and have a rich college life. Ds2’s gf went to an in-state public uni and has dominated. She runs for offices, thinking that she’ll get one or two, and then gets them all and is completely overwhelmed. But in a good way! All that success has opened so many doors. After spending last summer traveling in three countries, courtesy of the college, this summer, she’s going back to one because she fell in love with it. You can be a bigger fish in a smaller pond, but there really will be plenty of other awesome fish, too.

If you really can’t deal, go and be successful with an eye toward a transfer, but know that scholarship money is less likely for transfer students.

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Visit the options you have, pick your preference between them, and move forward. Second guessing doesn’t help now.

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What is it about Truman State and U o Missouri that you don’t like?
You sound like you have everything a college would want except for the ability to pay much of the tuition. I wonder if that is what hurt you. My guess is that you can have a great experience at the two above mentioned schools if you embrace what they have to offer. Even if they are in your state they won’t be exactly like high school. There are adventures to be had and new things to try and challenging classes to take and new friends to meet. Also consider spending a semester or year abroad to give yourself a new environment your junior year. Remember, most of the successful CEOs come from state universities.

20

No I have seen ALL but one of my daughter’s friends happy with their colleges once they get there. Many suffered heartbreaking rejections like you. Now some have graduated colleges and are doing great. It’s really hard to put 18 year olds together away from home who are trying to maximize their life and have them not end up enjoying it and figuring things out. That includes public and private colleges. Since you have such a good attitude, I don’t doubt that will be you too.

BTW, the one went to a preppy LAC 3000 miles from home and found the kids way too materialistic for her tastes. Because it was so small, she never found her crowd.