For some of you, this admissions decisions period did not bring the joy that you anticipated. You have perhaps received rejection letters from the schools you had hoped to be accepted into. In this blog post, we want to offer some tips on how to deal with rejection from schools. The most important thing is to realize that there are so many factors that go into acceptances at school, and this is not a reflection of who you are. Note, this blog is written for graduate applicants but can also apply to college applicants.
Tip #1. Give yourself time to process.
It is okay to feel disappointed in the rejection results, knowing fully well that you worked hard during this admission cycle. So allow yourself to feel those feelings. Take the time you need to process the news and be sad for a little bit. Reach out to friends, family, mentors, or others who can offer you support and encouragement in this time. You know your circle best and can pick out who will be the most helpful for you.
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If that’s you right now, go ahead and pause here until you are ready to go to the next step.
Tip #2. Reflect on your admissions packet
Most programs do not provide feedback on the application packet simply because the volume of applications are huge. Don’t take it personally. If you do have a program that did provide feedback, take the time to carefully review it and identify areas for improvement in future applications.
If you do not have feedback from the schools, go back through your essays and list of schools and think about what you could change/improve knowing what you know now? Will you have benefitted from a higher standardized test (GRE) score? Was your intended major the best fit for your schools? If you have friends who got admitted in this cycle, it might be helpful to ask them for their essays so you can compare theirs to yours and see how you might improve.
Tip #3. Evaluate your options.
Think about what options are available to you at the moment and alternative paths to achieve your goals. Are there different programs you might apply to in the future? How can you gain more experience in your field of interest? Maybe there is an internship or volunteer opportunity you can partake in that will strengthen your application packet.
The key here is to ensure that you continue learning & growing, and to stay engaged in your field of interest. This will strengthen your future application should you consider applying in the future.
We are firm believers in not giving up on your dream. So, if going to graduate school is part of your dream, it is important that you stay positive and resilient. Perseverance, resilience, and a positive attitude are key qualities that will serve you well when you get into the graduate program.
PS. If you are in the opposite scenario with multiple admissions offer and don’t know which to pick, check out this blog post.