Students. What is worse? Getting Rejected or Accepted but too expensive?

haha… both suck. I applied to a military academy and got my nom, got a letter of assurance as long as my medical records were completed, and then heard back from the med board only to discover-
I was rejected because my vision was too bad.

I felt like I had wasted so much time and effort into the tens of essays, interviews, stress… when I should’ve viewed the vision reqs beforehand. I felt hopeless for weeks and had a few breakdowns about how nothing I did mattered and how worthless I was… I’m slowly recovering, but overall college process still has me in the dumps rn…

That’s what I get for reading in bed with a flashlight/on my phone for so many years I suppose… :’)

*although I would choose getting in and not being able to afford it. I hate to brag and only berate myself more for not trying hard enough to be competitive for scholarships/working more jobs to save $