If You Get Denied From a College Can You Apply Again

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You've sent out your applications and can't stop envisioning yourself at your superlative-choice schoolhouse. But then the unthinkable happens: you get a college rejection alphabetic character. You showtime to wonder: what went wrong? What do I do now? Is it still possible to attend my top-choice school?

The truth is that I've been in this exact same situation. In 2008, I got rejected from my top-pick school, Stanford. Though the rejection letter of the alphabet hurt, on the plus side, information technology taught me a lot about what I did wrong, both in my application and my overall high school career.

In this article, I use my own rejection experience equally a guide to explain how likely a college rejection is for you lot, how to avoid getting rejected from college, and the steps to take in example your top-choice school only isn't that into you.

How Probable Is It That You'll Go a Higher Rejection Alphabetic character?

Starting time things first, how likely is it that you'll really get rejected from higher—more importantly, from your tiptop-choice school?

The answer to this question varies depending on two main factors:

  • How competitive your elevation-pick college is
  • How stiff your college application is

How Competitive Is Your Tiptop-Pick School?

Equally you might've guessed, your chances of getting rejected from higher depend a lot on how hard your pinnacle-selection school is to become into.

Many students' elevation choices are Ivy League institutions, such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, or other prestigious top-25 schools, such as Stanford, Rice, and the Academy of Chicago.

Now, what do many of these schools accept in common? That'southward right: extremely low credence rates. These rates dramatically touch on your likelihood of getting accepted (or getting rejected).

Below are the acceptance rates for the top 25 universities, as adamant by the most recent U.s. News rankings for 2022. All schools are listed in club of ranking. (Pro tip: click the school proper noun to larn more nigh its admission requirements!)

School US News Ranking Acceptance Rate
Princeton 1 4%
Harvard ii (necktie) 4%
Columbia ii (tie) four%
MIT two (tie) iv%
Yale 5 five%
Stanford 6 (tie) four%
University of Chicago half dozen (tie) 6%
University of Pennsylvania 8 6%
Caltech 9 (tie) 7%
Johns Hopkins nine (tie) 7%
Northwestern 9 (tie) vii%
Duke nine (tie) 6%
Dartmouth 13 6%
Dark-brown 14 (tie) 5%
Vanderbilt 14 (tie) 7%
Washington University in St. Louis fourteen (tie) 13%
Rice 17 (tie) 9%
Cornell 17 (necktie) ix%
University of Notre Dame 19 15%
UCLA twenty 14%
Emory 21 13%
UC Berkeley 22 17%
Georgetown 23 (tie) 12%
University of Michigan 23 (necktie) 20%
Carnegie Mellon University 25 (tie) 15%
University of Virginia 25 (necktie) 21%

As you can run into, your chance of acceptance to top-tier colleges ranges from just 4% to as much as 21%. Your chance of higher rejection is highest for schools ranked in the top 10. At these colleges, the typical applicant has a whopping 90-95% chance of getting rejected.

These are very, very full general estimates, though. How loftier or low your chances of rejection are will ultimately depend on the overall strength of your awarding (we talk over this more below). To become a slightly more accurate thought of your access chances to a particular school, utilize our college admissions reckoner.

Still, the bespeak is clear: most applicants to highly selective schools get rejected. Your adventure of getting a college rejection alphabetic character will be less likely if your top-choice school is ranked lower and has a higher access rate.

body_nyu_flag.jpg You lot accept a lower chance of getting rejected from NYU than you practice from Columbia. (jpellgen (@1179_jp)/Flickr)

How Stiff Is Your College Application?

The other major cistron that affects your chances of getting rejected from college is the strength of your application.

A stiff college application normally has the following features:

  • A high GPA and rigorous, challenging course load
  • High exam scores on the SAT/Human activity, AP exams, IB tests, etc.
  • A compelling personal statement
  • Cogent letters of recommendation
  • An impressive resume/CV—particularly one that showcases your ongoing commitment to a item field
  • A high class rank (if your high school calculates rank)

For the Ivy League and other highly competitive schools, y'all'll definitely need to stand up out from other applicants. And the best way to practice this is to create a big fasten in your awarding. A spike is essentially something you lot're passionate virtually and have continuously striven to main. It could be anything from a dear of writing brusque stories to a passion for chemistry.

Most chiefly, your spike should exist a field you're truly committed to and for which y'all take sufficient testify to prove your commitment.

If you have a spike likewise as high exam scores, a high GPA, etc., you lot'll have a much better adventure of being a top-choice candidate for your school.

All of this besides means that you should avoid aiming for a well-rounded awarding. This can put you right in the crapshoot of college applications, significantly reducing your gamble of acceptance (and thereby increasing your run a risk of rejection).

For more tips on how to put together a strong application, look at a real Harvard application and acceptance letter of the alphabet, supplied by our resident perfect SAT/ACT scorer.

My Experience: I Got Rejected From Stanford

Some of you reading this might be wondering why I'm writing this article. Well, let me commencement with some facts.

Rejection is cypher new to me. I applied to higher in 2008 (yeesh, I'grand getting onetime!). At the time, Stanford was my summit choice, so I applied restrictive early action, meaning that my application was due before (by Nov 1) and that Stanford was my #1 pick for college.

A niggling while later, I received a rejection by email. It was the kickoff academy I heard back from in the application process, and its letter was by far the nigh painful. I remember bursting into tears as soon as I finished reading it then running to my parents for comfort.

So many questions ran through my head: how come they didn't similar me? What did I practise wrong? Did I mess up my application somehow? Was I simply not skilful plenty?

Months later, I got accustomed to USC and decided to nourish that school instead. And I had a nail: I joined a couple of clubs, wrote for the school newspaper, worked on campus, made good friends, and had an overall fun and eclectic feel I'd never trade for anything.

Sometimes, though, I retrieve back to that initial higher rejection and wonder: how did I manage to go through such a difficult, stressful fourth dimension in my life? And how can I use what I know now to help other students in the aforementioned position I was once in?

Here's why I'm telling you all of this:

  • I want yous to know that I'thousand speaking from experience: This is not an article coming from one of those top students who got into every Ivy League school and has never dealt with the crushing pain of rejection. Trust me, I've been there—and I know exactly how it feels!
  • It'south important to know that you're not alone: Lots of students go rejected from college—honestly, more than than you might think!—and information technology'southward a totally normal role of the college admission procedure. Yes, some lucky people volition get accustomed to all the schools they employ to, but the fact is that about students will get rejected from at to the lowest degree one school, peculiarly if they're applying to highly competitive ones.
  • Rejection is office of life: It sucks to admit this, merely it's the truth. The meliorate you can larn to handle rejection, the easier it'll be to move on and wait for new (and ameliorate) means to reach your goals. (As a bonus, I've likewise gotten rejected from grad schools, then once over again I'm pretty experienced at this rejection affair!)

Now that you lot know my story, let's start with the positives: how to avoid getting rejected from college in the first place. If this doesn't work out for you, no worries—I'll likewise give you advice on what to practise if you do become rejected.

body_surprise_date.jpeg Unfortunately, my tips for avoiding rejection don't apply to asking people out on dates.

How to Avert Getting a College Rejection: 6 Tips

Since getting my first higher rejection from Stanford, I can tell you this: I've learned a lot about what I did wrong in my awarding.

For 1, my application wasn't unique enough. I didn't have a "spike" that made me stand autonomously from other applicants; instead, I naively believed in the misconception that well rounded was what all pinnacle schools wanted the about. (Hint: it's not!)

In add-on, my SAT score wasn't upwards to par. At the time I idea I'd done fairly well on the test, merely I didn't realize that pretty good isn't usually expert plenty for summit schools similar Stanford. These days, y'all'd need to score at least a 1500 (or in the top 2%) simply to see the boilerplate at Stanford!

Finally, I didn't take advantage of the AP/honors classes available at my high schools (I moved and attended two schools). I remember thinking that two or three AP classes and a couple of high AP scores would be good plenty. Once more, though, this isn't that impressive to peak-ranked schools.

Then what can you do to ensure that you have a amend adventure of getting into your height-pick school? Here are my top vi tips.

#1: Maintain a Loftier GPA While Also Challenging Yourself

Near students probably know this, merely you'll need a pretty high GPA to keep from getting rejected. Why? Well, a high GPA proves that y'all're not but responsible and studious just likewise capable of performing consistently well in a variety of disciplines. By excelling in several classes, you lot're providing direct prove of your deep commitment to learning and academic success.

So what constitutes a high GPA? The answer to this will depend on the school you're applying to. If you lot're applying to a elevation-25 school such as Stanford, aim for a 4.0 (unweighted ) or pretty close to it.

If you're not sure how high of a GPA your school expects, endeavour looking on the school's website for any data or data about the average GPA of admitted applicants.

That being said, getting a high GPA lone isn't every bit important as getting a adept GPA and taking a challenging course load.

Here'south what I hateful past this: when applying to top colleges, a 4.0 unweighted GPA is no doubt smashing. However, you'll be a much more competitive applicant if yous have, say, a slightly lower three.eight GPA and have also taken loads of challenging AP/honors courses.

This ways that you could get mostly As and a couple of Bs in challenging AP courses and still accept a college run a risk of getting accepted over someone who got all As but took only easy classes. This is because colleges similar to meet that you lot're continuously challenging yourself.

For me, this was a critical point I didn't get at all in high schoolhouse. I took a few AP and honors courses, merely I didn't take nearly as many as I should accept. Instead, I stuck mostly to classes I knew I'd get As in and refrained from truly challenging myself past taking harder ones. This is probably part of the reason Stanford rejected me.

#2: Become a High Sabbatum/ACT Score

Similar the tip to a higher place, this is kind of a no-brainer, but y'all'd exist surprised how little I idea of it when I applied to higher back in 2008.

Note: As a effect of the pandemic, nearly every school became exam-optional for at least 2020 and 2021, and some schools take decided to go permanently exam optional. This means that, if you're applying to one of these schools, y'all don't need to submit SAT or ACT scores, and your application won't exist at a disadvantage. Nonetheless, a high Act or Sabbatum score can still be a significant heave to your application, especially if you're on the bubble in other areas.

While colleges understand that the SAT/Act is just one role of your application, information technology's still pretty important to get a high score on one of the two tests—especially a score that sets y'all apart from other applicants.

A expert SAT/ACT score will vary depending on the schools yous're applying to. For example, if you were applying to Harvard, you lot'd desire to aim for 1580 on the Sat or 35 on the Deed. These are the 75th percentile scores for admitted applicants to Harvard. In other words, get this score level and yous'll take a higher score than 75% of applicants.

Even if you got slightly lower than this—such equally a 1570 on the SAT or a 34 on the ACT—you'd still be in relatively proficient shape. The signal, all the same, is that you desire to shoot as loftier as possible so you lot can give yourself the best hazard of access.

On the other paw, if you lot were applying to a less selective schoolhouse like the Academy of Houston, you'd merely need an SAT score around 1300 or an ACT score effectually 27. Again, y'all could all the same get accepted with slightly lower scores than these, but aiming loftier ensures you'll have a great shot.

As you can see, what's considered a high Saturday/ACT score will depend greatly on where you're applying. If you lot can hit (or nearly striking) your top-choice school'southward 75th percentile score, you'll stand out and lower your chances of rejection.

To find your school's test score data, search for "[Schoolhouse Name] PrepScholar" on Google. Click our link to the school's Admission Requirements folio to see the school'due south average SAT/Human action scores and its 25th/75th percentiles.

#iii: Work On Developing Your Fasten

This slice of communication is essential for those applying to the Ivy League or Ivy League-level institutions (and it'southward definitely something I wish I'd known back when I applied to Stanford). And here'southward what it is: function of crafting an incredible higher application is working on developing a spike.

I briefly introduced this concept earlier, but at present permit'south look at in detail. Your spike is what makes yous stand out from other applicants. This is typically an ongoing passion for and commitment to some kind of academic or personal interest.

For instance, perhaps you're a lover of writing who's published his ain self-assistance ebook and tutors elementary school students in creative writing on weekends. Or maybe you lot're a science whiz who's conducted numerous experiments and submitted her results to conventions.

Go the film here? Call up of this spike as the contrary of being well rounded.

When I applied to Stanford, I causeless that well rounded = automatic credence. I was a member of my schoolhouse's honor society, ran on the cross state squad for two years, and played the piano in my spare time. All of this, I thought, made me a well-rounded, ideal candidate.

Boy, was I incorrect.

In truth, colleges—particularly selective ones like Stanford—see tons of applicants like this. This is likely a big reason I got rejected: I wasn't unique enough! Instead, I should have spent more time developing the hobbies I enjoyed nigh and participating in activities more strongly tied to my most passionate interests.

That's what I did wrong. Now, here's what yous tin exercise right. Below, I listing some options you tin try to assistance you farther develop your spike:

  • Accept classes related to your passion: Into writing? Take extra writing-oriented classes such as newspaper, yearbook, or journalism. Also, if possible, opt for the hardest versions of these classes (e.yard., accept AP English instead of regular English).
  • Join a relevant guild: If you're a lover of geometry or calculus, join the math guild. Putting in extra time shows that you're interested in this field outside of school as well.
  • Enter fairs, contests, and conventions: This tip is especially relevant to those in the science field. Say y'all've got an invention, made a discovery, or created a slice of art that y'all want to testify off. Don't just keep information technology for yourself—submit your projection somewhere in order to highlight your commitment to making a change in the earth.
  • Teach younger students: Becoming a volunteer tutor/instructor demonstrates your devotion to helping others develop their passions in a field you bask. If you're an artist, volunteer to teach drawing or painting classes to students at a local Boys & Girls Guild, for instance.
  • Get a relevant part-time job: Not all students take the time or opportunity to secure a part-fourth dimension job in a field relevant to their interests, but if you can, I highly recommend doing then, as it tin can stress both your commitment to your field and your responsibility as an employee.

All in all, don't rely on the trap of being well rounded, particularly if you're trying to get accepted to highly selective schools.

body_blowing_bubblegum.png The merely matter y'all want to be well rounded is the chimera you lot're blowing.

#iv: Write a Compelling Personal Argument and Consider Context

Fifty-fifty if you've got both stellar grades and a high Sabbatum/ACT score, schools desire to run across that you're an interesting, passionate person who is committed to learning. This is why it's important to spend a lot of time crafting an impactful personal statement for your application.

In general, a good personal argument volition accomplish the post-obit:

  • Introduce who y'all are as a person (not but equally a student!) and why yous're applying
  • Provide context for your academic accomplishments, passions, and future goals
  • Focus on your fasten and what makes you unique
  • Reply the prompt clearly and fully (if given one)
  • Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
  • Be the correct length and file format (e.chiliad., PDF, .docx, etc.)
  • Brand the college desire to admit you!

The statement is a great opportunity to explicate what your spike is, how you got interested in information technology, and what kind of function you see it playing in your time to come. For a detailed look at what makes for a powerful personal statement, bank check out our assay of more than 100 higher essays.

In addition, the personal argument lets y'all explicate the context of your academic situation. For case, does your loftier school not offering any AP or honors courses? Or are you the first person in your family to attend higher?

It's important to respond questions like these in your essay so that the schoolhouse tin can accept into account your personal circumstances as well every bit how these might have influenced the quality of your awarding. This way, you lot won't get rejected simply considering you didn't have any AP courses (even though none might have been available to you!).

Many schools stress the importance of considering each applicant's circumstances. For case, here's what Stanford says on its website:

"We accept into business relationship your background, educational pathway, and piece of work and family responsibilities. By focusing on your achievements in context, nosotros evaluate how y'all accept excelled in your school environment and how y'all take taken advantage of what is available to y'all in your school and community."

And hither'south how Duke considers your groundwork in applications for access:

"As a office of our holistic approach, we consider both your bookish and personal interests, what y'all've accomplished, and your unique experiences, perspectives, and groundwork."

Evidently, the personal statement isn't just an opportunity to showcase your fasten and strengths—it's besides a chance to explain your personal situation. Do all of this, and y'all'll be far less probable to get rejected for something like a slightly lower SAT score.

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Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor volition craft your perfect college essay, from the ground upward. Nosotros'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the cease, you'll have a unique essay that you lot'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

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#5: Apply Early Action/Early Decision, If Possible

If your top-choice school offers an early activity or early decision plan, definitely do it (but only do the latter if you're 100% sure this is the school you want to attend).

Well-nigh early action/early decision deadlines are November i or Nov 15. These deadlines are about a month or two earlier than about regular determination deadlines.

So how does applying early on activeness/early conclusion affect your access chances? Data shows that those who employ early action or early on decision typically have higher acceptance rates than those who employ regular decision.

This doesn't necessarily mean y'all'll become accustomed. I practical early activeness to Stanford and notwithstanding got rejected. Still, an early awarding might give you a slight border over other applicants, as it shows the school you're committed to it and really want to continue your educational activity there.

The only drawback to applying early activeness/early on decision is that the early on deadline gives y'all less time to put together a strong awarding. If you're struggling to ready an effective awarding for an early on action plan, consider applying regular decision instead to give yourself more time.

This leads me to my adjacent point ...

#half dozen: Take Your Time—Don't Rush the Application Process!

Whether you're applying early activity/early on decision or regular determination, it can be tempting to rush through the application process, especially since most students are extremely decorated at the start of senior yr.

Even though this is a stressful time, try your best not to rush through your application to your top-selection school. Just put, don't write your personal statement the 24-hour interval earlier the borderline, and don't ask for letters of recommendation from teachers at the last minute.

Why is this and so important? If yous spend likewise little time working on your application, yous run a much college hazard of doing the following:

  • Misreading application instructions
  • Forgetting to submit a required (or very of import) document/application component
  • Turning in subpar materials, such as a poorly written essay

I advise spending at to the lowest degree a few months on your higher applications. And while all applications are equally important, information technology's OK to spend a picayune extra fourth dimension on the application for your top selection, if only considering information technology's the school you're near interested in.

Also, don't exist afraid to ask questions by emailing or calling the school. For example, dislocated about application instructions? Send an email. Not certain what a "supplementary document" is? Call the admissions department. Better to make sure you're following the rules than to risk getting your application disqualified because you fabricated a huge (but entirely preventable) fault.

When I applied to Stanford, I thought I'd taken my time to practise the awarding, but I really hadn't. Information technology was but later I submitted it that I realized I'd made some dire mistakes.

Here's my almost memorable: at the time, Stanford allowed applicants to attach supplementary files. So I attached a sample chapter from a novel I was writing to bear witness my passion for writing. But subsequently submitting my application, I reread the awarding instructions and realized that chapters of fiction was something Stanford specifically requested applicants to not send in. Oops!

body_depressed_statue_cemetery.jpg Got rejected? Information technology's OK to get a little dramatic.

How to Deal With College Rejection: 5 Essential Tips

Unfortunately, fifty-fifty if you heed all the tips in a higher place, yous could notwithstanding air current up with a higher rejection letter. I'll be honest: getting rejected sucks. Simply it certainly doesn't hateful your academic career (or life, if you lot're dramatic like me) is over.

Hither are some ways to cope with a college rejection, too as options on what to do after you get rejected from college:

#ane: Give Yourself Time to Procedure the Rejection

This is actually, really of import. Once you get the dreaded college rejection letter of the alphabet from your height-choice school, it can feel as though the whole world is crashing down around you. I'grand here to tell you that this feeling is totally normal. Later on all, yous're substantially grieving—sounds cheesy, I know. Only it'due south the truth.

And when something bad happens, it's of import to take fourth dimension to let yourself feel deplorable almost it. In this example, fifty-fifty though yous likely worked actually hard in school, you lost the opportunity to attend the higher of your dreams. All of your future plans must alter, which sucks. It'due south OK (and even expected) to be upset about this.

Here are some healthy options for coping with a college rejection:

  • Weep (hey, it worked for me!)
  • Spend some time alone to help you get used to the fact that y'all got rejected
  • Talk it out with shut friends and/or family members
  • Distract yourself in positive ways with activities such as video games, homework, or hanging out with friends
  • Commiserate with other rejectees, either in person or on higher forums such every bit College Confidential and Reddit
  • Rip up, shred, or burn your rejection letter (let's exist honest: dramatic expressions tin can brand us feel great)

Although grieving is important, don't let yourself get wrapped upwards in your sorrows for too long. Once you've given yourself aplenty time to cope, go off the ground and focus on the other options you've got in your life.

Also, attempt not to let the rejection negatively affect your grades, extracurriculars, and other college applications (if you lot haven't finished all of them even so).

#2: Go Excited About Other Schools

While your top-choice schoolhouse might've rejected you, think that this is simply i school, and y'all (hopefully) have several others you're applying to or already applied to. These are the schools it's time to get excited nearly, regardless of whether you've heard back from them. There is a reason y'all practical to each school you applied to.

As you get through the schools y'all've been accepted to, concentrate on the specific features and opportunities you liked about each schoolhouse. For case, what inspired you to employ there? Can you lot envision yourself feeling at habitation on campus? What kinds of classes and majors does it offer? Practice you like its emphasis on Greek life? What about its crawly football team?

If possible, talk to current students at the schools then you lot tin start to imagine yourself attending them. Doing this volition not just make you lot excited about your other options but will also forestall you from daydreaming most what might've happened had you been accepted to your top selection.

Finally, think that you volition likely be able to study what y'all want to at these other schools equally well. Only because your top-pick school rejected you, that doesn't mean you nevertheless can't get a BA in Psychology or a BS in Informatics.

body_disney_castle.jpg Apparently, you can fifty-fifty make your own Disney caste at UC Berkeley!

#3: Take a Gap Year and Reapply Later

If y'all didn't go accustomed to your top-choice school, a gap year tin can help y'all figure out what kind of educational activity you desire in life while as well providing you with some interesting experiences (which could potentially strengthen futurity higher applications!).

After your gap year, y'all tin can then reapply to your top-choice schoolhouse, with a fresh perspective and a slightly better understanding of where your application might've gone wrong before.

While there'due south nix wrong with taking a twelvemonth off before college, be sure you lot're actually making your gap yr worthwhile. Neither colleges nor your parents will be impressed if all you do is sit at home and play video games all 24-hour interval. Make your gap twelvemonth an adventure: piece of work a new job, travel away, intern at a company, join a community club, learn a strange linguistic communication.

Hopefully, you'll get experiences out of your gap year that'll assistance you in the field you desire to major in. For example, if you're thinking about majoring in English, taking a year off to write a novel and submit stories you've written to literary magazines would be an fantabulous utilize of your fourth dimension (assuming your parents are OK with it, of course!).

Later, when you lot begin the process of reapplying to your top-choice school, you can explain in your application what you did during your gap yr and why you chose to take a year off before starting college.

If you make up one's mind to reapply, it'due south a good idea to use your erstwhile application equally a reference. Think virtually where you lot might've gone wrong and how yous can amend on it this fourth dimension (ideally, by incorporating some of your gap-year experiences into it).

A give-and-take of caution, though: don't put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, don't await to go admitted simply because you applied before and now deserve to get in. Admissions is often a brutal process, and nobody (except those on the admissions commission) knows what a higher is looking for in terms of applicants.

So as you reapply to your superlative-choice schoolhouse, make sure y'all're applying to other schools equally well—ideally, a combination of achieve schools and safety schools.

#4: Call up That Transferring Is an Option

If you decide to nourish a different school you got into (which most people do, including myself!), know that it might be possible to transfer to your top-choice schoolhouse in a couple of years.

While I wouldn't attend a different college with this exact plan in mind, knowing that transferring is an option in case you still actually want to attend your peak-option schoolhouse should make you feel a little more at ease with your determination to (temporarily) attend a unlike school.

Note that to transfer to a school, you'll usually demand to submit an entirely new transfer application meaning that information technology can't exist the same one yous submitted earlier when applying as a freshman.

Moreover, transferring is not guaranteed. Many schools, peculiarly the Ivies, accept very few transfers each year.

Harvard stated that they typically have about xv transfer students out of about 1,500 application, an acceptance rate of 1%. As y'all can encounter, hither y'all actually have a lower risk of getting accepted as a transfer pupil than you practise as a freshman applicant (the electric current acceptance rate for which is 4%).

If you're curious well-nigh the transfer credence rate at your acme-choice schoolhouse, contact your school directly or check out CollegeTransfer.internet, which contains tons of data on schools and their transfer rates.

In the end, though, who knows what'll happen? Yous might end up loving the school you attend and wouldn't fifty-fifty consider transferring out of it.

#v: Consider Challenging the Rejection

In that location is one final option you accept when information technology comes to higher rejection, though it's one I honestly don't recommend doing: appealing, or challenging, your rejection.

Challenging a college rejection is pretty much what it sounds like. When you go rejected, you have the choice to tell the college you think they're incorrect and ask them to reconsider your application.

So what's the problem? Y'all tin can't appeal your rejection just because you're upset that you didn't become accustomed. This is not a good enough reason to enquire a higher to look at your awarding again. Fifty-fifty if a school did hold to reevaluate your application, it's unlikely a 2nd look-through would alter their minds (particularly if your master complaint is that they failed to recognize how admittedly incredible y'all are).

Instead, you can only appeal a college rejection if yous take any new, pregnant information to add together to your awarding, or if there was a major fault or problem with your application. For example, did you win a large award or somehow dramatically improve your GPA? Then meet whether you can entreatment the rejection. (Not all schools will allow you do this, though!)

In terms of technical issues, did your Sabbatum/Human activity score get reported incorrectly to your higher? Or did your transcript get messed up and evidence yous got Ds when you actually got Every bit? Then appeal the rejection; almost probable the college will let it in this case since the problem is non actually your mistake.

In some cases, colleges will not let you to appeal your rejection at all (even if you won the Nobel Peace Prize). In fact, most peak-ranked schools don't allow appeals of access decisions. If yous disagree with their decision, you only have to wait and reapply the following year.

If you're not sure whether your top-selection school allows appeals or not, look at the schoolhouse'southward official website or contact the school directly.

While rare, it is possible to get into a higher through an appeal (though it's admittedly far less probable to get in this way). Here's an instance of a student who got accepted to UC Berkeley through an appeal.

body_uc_berkeley-1.jpg Seriously, start a Disney major and now a successful entreatment? Starting to call back I should've attended Berkeley ...

Conclusion: How to Bargain With College Rejection

After getting my Stanford rejection letter of the alphabet, I cried a lot and talked to my parents. Eventually, I moved on and started to get excited about my other options. I concluded upwards attending USC, where I had a fun, stimulating, and all-around memorable feel—something I wouldn't merchandise for the globe!

Still, getting rejected isn't fun. Unfortunately, it tin can be a likely consequence if you're applying to highly selective universities and don't have the grades or exam scores your school expects.

The easiest fashion to avoid getting rejected from higher is to produce the best application you can. For meridian schools, this means y'all should typically have the following:

  • A loftier GPA and a challenging class load
  • Strong SAT/Act exam scores
  • A pronounced spike in your extracurriculars and hobbies
  • A well-written and impactful personal statement

If possible, apply early action/early decision to your top-choice school. Applying early on raises your adventure of admission just slightly, as it highlights your commitment to the school.

Finally, make certain to take your time with your application—don't rush any office of it!

Let's say you do all of this, though, and still get rejected from your elevation-pick school. Bummer. At this betoken, you've essentially got v options (which you can mix and match, equally desired):

  • Accept your time to process the rejection: Find a shoulder to cry on. Talk to family members and friends for support. Scream, "Rejection sucks!" while punching a pillow. Practise whatsoever you lot need to do (in a healthy way) to make yourself experience better as you grieve.
  • Get excited about your other schools: One rejection shouldn't exist the be-all and end-all of your academic dreams. Remember that you applied to other schools for a reason, then start to call back about what those tin can offer you instead.
  • Accept a gap year and reapply later: For some people, taking a break from schoolhouse is exactly what they demand to feel better and figure out what they want to do with their lives. Information technology can also assistance you put together a stronger, more versatile awarding the adjacent fourth dimension you employ. Just don't look an automatic credence from your top-option school—more than probable, it'll still be simply as hard to get into as information technology was the first year you applied!
  • Call up that you lot tin can transfer afterwards: Though not guaranteed, transferring is an option you might take a couple of years down the road if you even so desire the chance to attend your meridian-choice school.
  • Consider challenging your rejection: I don't recommend this option, but information technology'due south there if your school allows it. Though information technology'due south rare to arrive based on an appeal, it's certainly not impossible!

No affair what you choose to do, take care to remind yourself that getting rejected doesn't mean you're a bad pupil or that your awarding was horrendous. It just means that the school could only admit so many people, and you happened to not be 1 of them.

Even though the college admissions procedure can feel similar an uphill battle, just know that you lot're definitely not lonely. As we say at my alma mater, "Fight on!"

What's Next?

Want more than tips for raising your chances of getting accepted to higher? Check out our handy admissions calculator to learn how to estimate your chances of acceptance based on your current GPA and exam scores.

Need help applying to Harvard and other acme schools? This guide covers everything y'all need to know to become into the nation'south best colleges and universities.

Struggling with the application process? We're hither to assist! Our expert guides teach yous how to build a versatile college application and become over the application timeline to assistance you lot step yourself.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your Human action score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each exam about the top 5 strategies yous must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for gratuitous now:

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About the Writer

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a available's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Plan. She is passionate well-nigh instruction, writing, and travel.

stanforddelf1978.blogspot.com

Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-deal-with-college-rejection

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