Rejected but ended up ok

[Anonymous]

I got accepted everywhere two including two hypsm. But I am self aware enough to recognize that I did it at a time where it was a ton easier to get in. Also, in my adult life I have met a zillion successful people with a range of educational experiences - and many rejections - to know that it is a blip on a long road. The messaging doesn’t strike me as that hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheesh, harsh crowd here. Of course statistics show that most applicants get rejected from high-ranked schools — and equally show that a lot of successful people and public figures went to lower-ranked schools.

But it's nice to hear those individual stories. They're relatable in a way that cold hard numbers aren't.

This.

[Anonymous]

Many kids rejected from very selective schools are smart and hard-working. If they just apply themselves to wherever they go, they’ll do fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Deferred and waitlisted (EA) from dream sLAC. Ended up at regional LAC on a substantial merit scholarship. It changed the entire course of my life for the better and I'm grateful every day for the friendships, career opportunities, and education I got as a result of what I thought at the time was a massive and insurmountable failure. Going to my alma mater was the best thing that ever happened to me and is the catalyst for any success I've attained in 45 years.

So why not name the LAC ?

[Anonymous]

Rejected at W&M, went to MWC (now UMW), grad school at VT. Rejection, though hard to accept at the time, has led me to a VERY happy life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many kids rejected from very selective schools are smart and hard-working. If they just apply themselves to wherever they go, they’ll do fine.

+1 OP, your DC needs to pick themselves up, and make the most of it.

My high stats DC got rejected most everywhere they applied. They were disappointed with results. They did get in to the in state flagship, but expected better results. I told DC to make the most of it, shared with them the positives of the state flagship, and that higher stat kids were getting rejected at those selective colleges, too. College admissions these days is like playing the lottery. So, you didn't win the lottery. You can still go on to have a great life. And after 10 years in the workforce, no one but people with self esteem issues will care where you went to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was rejected at multiple Ivies and top-tier schools including Harvard and Yale, waitlisted at Princeton and UVA. I was the class valedictorian and got in nowhere.

Eventually got into UVA off the waitlist, transferred to William and Mary, went through an enormous family crisis where my grades plummeted and graduated with a not great GPA...

and less than 10 years later I was working in the White House.

I have a great career now.

love this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the math. 90+ percent get rejected from most elite institutions. Presumably most move on and find success a different way.

+1000

Especially those that are not snowflakes and realize that over 90% are rejected at most elite institutions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many kids rejected from very selective schools are smart and hard-working. If they just apply themselves to wherever they go, they’ll do fine.

+1 OP, your DC needs to pick themselves up, and make the most of it.

My high stats DC got rejected most everywhere they applied. They were disappointed with results. They did get in to the in state flagship, but expected better results. I told DC to make the most of it, shared with them the positives of the state flagship, and that higher stat kids were getting rejected at those selective colleges, too. College admissions these days is like playing the lottery. So, you didn't win the lottery. You can still go on to have a great life. And after 10 years in the workforce, no one but people with self esteem issues will care where you went to college.

Based on the last line of your response, your understanding of this thread is different than mine.

This thread is not about impressing others; it is about one's personal evaluation of one's collegiate experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many kids rejected from very selective schools are smart and hard-working. If they just apply themselves to wherever they go, they’ll do fine.

+1 OP, your DC needs to pick themselves up, and make the most of it.

My high stats DC got rejected most everywhere they applied. They were disappointed with results. They did get in to the in state flagship, but expected better results. I told DC to make the most of it, shared with them the positives of the state flagship, and that higher stat kids were getting rejected at those selective colleges, too. College admissions these days is like playing the lottery. So, you didn't win the lottery. You can still go on to have a great life. And after 10 years in the workforce, no one but people with self esteem issues will care where you went to college.

Based on the last line of your response, your understanding of this thread is different than mine.

This thread is not about impressing others; it is about one's personal evaluation of one's collegiate experience.

Please disregard my response as it was intended for another thread.

[Anonymous]

My DS is currently ecstatically happy at his second choice college, and says he is really glad he got rejected from “the dream school” because he can’t imagine himself anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is currently ecstatically happy at his second choice college, and says he is really glad he got rejected from “the dream school” because he can’t imagine himself anywhere else.

That is how I felt in the end. 2 ivies said no - oh well! I believe I landed where I was meant to. Still went to an incredibly good school but it was a little smaller and a bit friendlier/less cutthroat. Plus, warmer climate than the Ivies I had a good college experience and got over the rejections pretty quickly after they happened

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was back in the early 2000s but I personally was rejected from top Ivies that my parents were willing to pay for, could not financially go to "lesser" "famous" schools that my parents were not willing to pay for, and ended up in a middle of the pack private school on scholarship. Used it as motivation to excel and am flourishing and very happy with where I am these days.

Keep up the Rejection-to-Motivation pipeline guys and gals!

How did you feel about your parents not willing to pay for a "lesser" school or that they paid for the middle of the pack, perhaps only because you had a scholarship? I'm asking because I hear parents who are full pay say, "I would never pay full price for that school" where their kid has been offered merit. I'm just wondering how that sounds to the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many kids rejected from very selective schools are smart and hard-working. If they just apply themselves to wherever they go, they’ll do fine.

+1 OP, your DC needs to pick themselves up, and make the most of it.

My high stats DC got rejected most everywhere they applied. They were disappointed with results. They did get in to the in state flagship, but expected better results. I told DC to make the most of it, shared with them the positives of the state flagship, and that higher stat kids were getting rejected at those selective colleges, too. College admissions these days is like playing the lottery. So, you didn't win the lottery. You can still go on to have a great life. And after 10 years in the workforce, no one but people with self esteem issues will care where you went to college.

You can say that again in re your last line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got accepted everywhere two including two hypsm. But I am self aware enough to recognize that I did it at a time where it was a ton easier to get in. Also, in my adult life I have met a zillion successful people with a range of educational experiences - and many rejections - to know that it is a blip on a long road. The messaging doesn’t strike me as that hard.

Do you think your DC(s) is owed admission based on your legacy?