Did you happen to receive a letter from the admissions committee that looks like this?
We regret to inform you that your application for admission has been rejected by our admissions committee. Due to an increase in applications and limited openings, we cannot at this time extend an offer of admission to you.
No matter how nice – or how cruelly – a college admissions committee informs you of an admission decision that is not in your favor, the result is still the same: crushing. Perhaps you applied to that school that you knew you wouldn't get into. Or maybe it was your top choice, dream college since you were the age of 10. Whatever the case, rejection hurts.
How to Handle College Rejection Letters and Waitlists
So how do you deal with the feelings – and the reality – of receiving an admissions rejection letter?
Allow Yourself Appropriate Time to Wallow
It's true – it's not the end of the world. But it's still upsetting. Allow yourself some time to grieve over what could have been had you received a college acceptance letter to your #1 choice.
However,
don't let it get you down. While this lesson in rejection cuts deep, it is very likely that you will encounter this type of scenario again in life. Ultimately, it's good practice. How you handle rejection now will help you better approach being potentially rejected from other major life experiences, like job opportunities or a significant social snub.
Prepare Yourself for This Scenario Ahead of Time
This is tricky. You should NOT go into the admissions process thinking, "I'm very likely not going to get into this amazing university, so I won't give it my all."
You should think the opposite! A positive, can-do attitude can do wonders for your application,
admissions interview, and test-taking. In fact, many admissions officers consider that type of attitude when making decisions.
On the other hand, you shouldn't lump all your collegiate hopes and dreams into one basket. You need to diversify your admissions portfolio. Apply to a variety of schools. Set yourself up for success – but also dream a little. Here's how you can do that:
•
Reach Schools: Identify one or two schools that are the dream schools. The
"I don't know if I can get into that school, but I at least have to try" schools. These colleges may be a reach for you academically or financially, or they may be one of those top-tier universities in the nation that receive countless applications with limited space.
•
Target Schools: Apply to three to five target schools. These are the colleges that you are fairly certain you can get into based on your academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and test scores. They're also a great financial fit.
•
Safety Schools: Finally, safety schools (insert sigh of relief). A safety school is the one college that you KNOW you will get into. Perhaps they have a 100% acceptance rate.
If Nothing Cheers You Up, Know You're in Good Company
If it helps, everyone has been rejected at one point or another, especially from colleges. While your peers may not fess up to any of their college rejections, some notable people in history have talked about their experiences.
According to
Money.com,
Tina Fey and
Katie Couric both wound up at
University of Virginia after being rejected from their first choice colleges. Fey was hoping to attend
Princeton University while Couric was vying for a spot at
Smith College.
Tom Hanks was hoping to get into
M.I.T. or
Villanova, but he wound up with rejection letters from both. Instead, Hanks opted to attend
Chabot College for two years before transferring to
Sacramento State.
Steven Spielberg experienced a double whammy when it came to college rejection, as reported by
Money. He didn't make it into either
UCLA or
University of Southern California. After being rejected by both, he attended Cal State Long Beach – but left just before graduation after he was offered a movie deal. Many Oscars, BAFTA wins, and Golden Globes later, Spielberg returned to
Cal State Long Beach to complete his degree in 2002.
Finally, even United States Presidents have been rejected from colleges. Harry S. Truman was rejected from
West Point – although it was due to his poor eyesight and not bad grades or less-than-stellar test scores. He went on to attend business college in Kansas City but dropped out because he lacked the money to attend. Ultimately, he secured the title of President of the United States without a college degree, states
Money.
Barack Obama also received a college rejection letter in the mail. Swarthmore denied the future President admission into the school (joke's on them), and he opted to attend
Occidental College. He later transferred to Columbia University.
Is Getting Wait-Listed the Same as Being Rejected?
Getting waitlisted is not necessarily the same as being rejected. If you did receive a college waitlist notification, you can't remain in limbo until the university makes a decision. You need to move forward in a few ways.
Getting Wait-Listed
If you are waitlisted, you can expect to receive an email and/or letter from the college admissions office. Below are the actions you should take if you are waitlisted.
First, you can accept a spot on the waitlist. This tells the college that you're still interested should they be able to offer you admission. At the same time, you should put a deposit down to attend your second-choice school.
Second, use this waiting time as a chance to consider whether your wait list school is still your #1 choice – or if you're willing to accept a spot at another school. When the time comes to notify either institution, you'll be ready.
Writing a Letter of Continued Interest
Additionally, you can submit a letter of continued interest. Many schools not only allow this submission but encourage it. This is your chance to express that you’re still interested in attending the school as well as to notify them of any recent achievements or improvements that didn’t make your college application.
For instance, if your GPA has increased or you
scored better on the most recent SAT, let them know. Anything that has improved you as a student should be made clear to the admissions committee.
If you do make it off the wait list (congratulations!), you must notify any other college where you had placed a deposit. You won't get the deposit back, but it's likely worth it to you to wind up where you want to be in the first place.
College Rejection
If you get a rejection letter from the college you have applied to, you should
review your college search list. Apply to the colleges you may not have applied to. Revisit your college search list, specifically those you placed within the Safety Schools category.
Determine why you may have been rejected. Was it your grades? If so, consider enrolling in a community college to
work on your GPA. Once you have your grades at the level they need to be, you can reapply to the college you originally received the rejection letter from—if you'd like to. You may find you'd fit in better at another college in the long run!
Appealing a Rejection
Another option after receiving a rejection letter is to appeal the admissions decision.
U.S. News and World Report states that UC-Berkeley admitted 3-5% of freshmen appeals in the last three admission cycles, but every school is different. Some will accept zero.
Colleges may have admissions appeal instructions listed on their website. If they don’t, reach out directly to your admissions officer to ask if the school accepts them. Admissions appeal processes differ from school to school.
An appeal that has a chance of being approved features one thing: new information. These are test scores or achievements that were not listed on the initial college application. Appeals that just state how much you wish to attend will not be accepted.
Soldiering On After the College Rejection Letter
The old saying is true: things happen for a reason. If you asked any of the above celebrities and politicians if they would have preferred to get admitted into their first-choice college, they would likely tell you that they wouldn't change history. Their stories – as well as countless other unknown biographies – help to show that there is life after rejection letters from colleges– as well as purpose.
The journey to and through the college experience molds you into the person you will be. Let it take you to surprising places and find joy in what happens next.
