What If I Don’t Get accepted To The College Of My Choice?
A college rejection letter hurts. There is nothing worse than opening that long-awaited letter from the college of your choice, only to discover that you have not been invited to attend. What are the options that you can consider?
In general, it would not be a practicable idea for you to have high hopes in an appeal. The more selective the college, the less likely it will be that they will change their minds. Keep in mind that there may be many factors for a college rejection letter, and these factors are not necessarily personal. So, an appeal might be worth considering, if, in fact, any of the following apply:
· You have significant additional information that you omitted from your original application package
· You have retaken a standardized test and received improved scores
· There are personal considerations that affected your initial application, which you would like taken into account, such as death of a family member, trauma, or major life upheaval
If you decide to make an appeal on a rejection, do so with the utmost maturity and thought. Take the time to examine the appeals process for the school with whom you are dealing. You should be able to get instructions for your appeal from the school’s web site or directly from their admissions office. Take the time to put all of your materials (covering letter, references, and additional academic evidence) for the appeal together in one envelope, and submit your information by the school’s prescribed deadline.
You might not feel like it right now, but your rejection can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. So, you should begin making plans to help you move past the rejection, and get on with your life. What about the other schools to which you applied? And, consider that there is still time for you to apply to more schools. Take a look at your second choice and backup schools, and start planning your course of action as soon as possible.
Sometimes, a strong first-year academic showing at another college will be enough to be accepted into your first-choice school at a later date, as a transfer student. So, spend your first year at school thinking about ways that you can improve your application. Volunteer services and engagement in community service can be an excellent way for you to show the school of your choice what you can accomplish.
It may be that the rejection from the school you dreamed of attending opens up many other doors that you cannot imagine. The benefits of attending your second or third-choice institution might not be completely clear until you actually experience them. So, do not let a rejection move you to the sidelines. Do whatever you can to get over the rejection. And, in the process you will be getting on with your academic life.
If you choose to take an academic gap year, be sure to do so with plenty of forethought and consideration. Taking sufficient time to explore your options and gain some worldly experience in the process is one option. Taking that time to bemoan the fact that you were rejected is quite another. If you choose to delay your college entrance for a period of time, just make sure that you keep in mind “the big picture.” Taking a gap year is probably best to do only with the full support of your family and with clear goals in mind for what you want to accomplish during this timeframe.