Submitting a college application is an exciting part of one’s life. It comes with the anxiety of having to wait for a response from the college and feeling disappointed and sad if you received a college rejection letter. You don’t have to give up on your dreams and allow college rejection depression to set in.
This delay is just an initial setback. I got rejected from every college I applied to initially. So, I understand how you must be feeling that is why I have decided to share with you this article on how to deal with college rejection.
How To Handle College Rejection
Dealing with college rejection is not so easy especially if it is your dream college. It is usually like your whole dreams have been shattered. When it comes to college rejection, here are some tips to help you get through with it.
- It’s okay to allow yourself to feel disappointed for a day or two. You have worked so hard and put in so much effort into the application, so it is very understandable to feel disappointed and sad when you receive the rejection letter. However, you should not wallow in it for more than two to three days.
- Do not take college rejection personal. Do not feel you are not worthy and that was why your application was rejected. Often, getting a rejection letter does not mean you were not good enough, it is usually as a result of other factors. Most colleges, especially the highly competitive ones, get a lot of good applicants than they can’t accept so, they usually use other factors to filter them out.
- Use the help of a counselor or support group if necessary. Do not shut yourself from the rest of the world. Don’t refuse support and comfort from your family and friends when they offer it. You can also speak with your school counselor. The counselor always has experience with these cases so, he/she will know just what you need to get through with it. He can also help you review your application and advise you on what you need to improve to get a better chance with your next application. With people around you encouraging and advising you, you will get over it in no time.
- With assistance from your support group or counselor, plan your next line of action. Even if you have been rejected from every college you applied to, it’s not the end of the world. You should not give up on your dreams just yet. You can review your application and still apply to other colleges that are in line with your goals.
- Be open. Do not be stereotyped. Yeah, I know it has always been your dream as a child to get into this particular college but wake up, life has happened. Things would not always go the way you planned it, be thankful your dream college rejection letter made you realize it very early in life. Other colleges would give you almost the same benefit as your dream college. Just be open to trying out new schools. Also, you can apply for internships, mentorship, or apprenticeships if you have to wait for a while before re-applying to college.
- Take a break. You can just take a year break. The break would help you reassess your dreams and career goals. You travel, work, or just do anything within this period. It is oftentimes a time of self-discovery instead of annoying homework. You get to learn more about yourself and also improve on yourself. Taking a break often rubs positively on most people.
- Be optimistic. Have a positive outlook. Do not sabotage your college experience because you didn’t get into your desired college. You can create the kind of college experience you want irrespective of the college you got accepted into. You just have to be deliberate about it. Believe in yourself, create memories and have fun.
What Does A College Rejection Letter Look Like?
College rejection letters are usually sent in a white small envelope. The content is usually precise and straight to the point. You can check out college rejection letter samples online to have an overview of what it looks like.
Generally, it is not usually stated in the letter why an applicant was rejected. However, some of the common reasons for college rejection are; your application does not meet the academic threshold, the application is incomplete, the application has too many errors, the college is not a good fit for what you expected in your essay, or your essay is not too convincing.
However, the reality is that most of the popular colleges receive a lot of good applications, more than they can handle. So, the reason you were rejected might not be because your application was not good enough but because you did not meet an additional criterion that was used to filter out the numerous applications.
However, if you know that there was a flaw in your application which you suspect could have been the reason you are getting rejected from college, then you should review it and work on it before submitting your next application. You can also use the help of your school’s counselor or college advisor to help you review your application. He would be able to spot flaws in your application and advise you on what to do.
You can also consider appealing a college rejection letter. Though the chances of the college reconsidering their decision are very slim but it’s worth giving it a try since you have nothing to lose. If you want to appeal your college rejection, then it’s worth giving it your best shot. These are tips to guide you in writing your appealing college rejection letter.
- Research on the school appeal process. The appeal process differs from one college to another so it is usually best that you do extensive research about the school’s appeal process. Some college has a formal appeal application which can be accessed on their websites while others offer no information on the topic. Some colleges would even clearly state that decisions are final and there is no room for appealing. You need to be sure of the college stance as regards appeal letters so you would know if it is worth sending one in the first place.
- Submit your appeal letter as soon as possible. If you received a rejection letter, it only means some other people have received acceptance letters and as a matter of fact, have already begun enrolment and freshmen registration activities. You should submit your appeal letter soon if you still want to meet up with the registration and enrolment process. Also, it is advisable to submit your appeal letter early enough so you can hear the college final decision soon enough which would help you plan your next course of action on time.
- Present all relevant facts and be persuasive.
Can You Apply To College After Rejection?
If you got a rejection letter from the college your dream school and you still don’t want to give up on your choice of college just yet, then you can reapply to the college next year. However, review your application, look for the weakest links in your applications and improve your application. You might need to do the following before reapplying.
- Standardized test score. You might need to retake the ACT or SAT
- Interviewing skills
- Portfolio
- Gain work experience
- Improve your essay
- Volunteer experience
- Internship
- Mentorship
A college rejection letter is not the end of the world. You can appeal the letter or apply again to the same institution. There are also support systems that you can key into to help you get it right this time. You need not worry, you will be able to get into college despite the delay. The next time, try to get professional help with scholarship essay writing.
