HS Senior "Rejection Cake" Trend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think it could be perfectly healthy to hang out with friends and bake and cake and trash the schools that rejected you.

But I'd be livid if my kid posted that on social media. Yes even if my kid was a legal adult at the time. It's not a good look.

I barely see social media, so maybe that influences how I see this, but it seems harmless to me. The video is lighthearted, not negative, and the girls in it didn’t disparage the schools that rejected them in any way. Obviously they thought well enough of the schools that they sought admissions from them. I think this just helps de-stigmatize the tons of rejections that kids face in college admissions. Admissions are much more competitive now than they were even one generation ago. Kids feel tremendous pressure to strive for perfection to try to get into schools their parents thought of as safeties. These same girls made another cake and another video depicting where they will actually be attending. It’s like telling this year’s juniors that you’ll be okay even if you receive a pile of rejections. You only need to get into one school that suits your needs.

+1 I've seen a couple of these videos, and there's no trashing involved. The kids usually seem to be in a pretty good mood, just putting signs from the schools that rejected them on a cake. That's all they say..."I/We got rejected from School X!" I think it shows that 1) they're not alone, since there are usually a couple of kids in the group for each school, and 2) that it's not something to be overly upset about because it happens to everybody.

[Anonymous]

This actually seems completely unhealthy and is undoubtedly the product of their parents’ toxic fixation on certain schools.

[Anonymous]

Pathetic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think it could be perfectly healthy to hang out with friends and bake and cake and trash the schools that rejected you.

But I'd be livid if my kid posted that on social media. Yes even if my kid was a legal adult at the time. It's not a good look.

I barely see social media, so maybe that influences how I see this, but it seems harmless to me. The video is lighthearted, not negative, and the girls in it didn’t disparage the schools that rejected them in any way. Obviously they thought well enough of the schools that they sought admissions from them. I think this just helps de-stigmatize the tons of rejections that kids face in college admissions. Admissions are much more competitive now than they were even one generation ago. Kids feel tremendous pressure to strive for perfection to try to get into schools their parents thought of as safeties. These same girls made another cake and another video depicting where they will actually be attending. It’s like telling this year’s juniors that you’ll be okay even if you receive a pile of rejections. You only need to get into one school that suits your needs.

+1

Well said.

[Anonymous]

I don't like this or the bed parties. Instead of being more low key about everything and going with the flow, kids now have to social media everything, overthink everything, overhype, overconsume...No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares

Your kid got rejected, I see.

Bake a cake and decorate away!

no, didn't apply

Sure, Jan. 👌

My kid is a sophomore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like this or the bed parties. Instead of being more low key about everything and going with the flow, kids now have to social media everything, overthink everything, overhype, overconsume...No.

Gender reveals weren’t a big thing back when these kids were born. Imagine what these videos will look like once the Gen Alpha kids are going through the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Seems a fun way to cope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think it could be perfectly healthy to hang out with friends and bake and cake and trash the schools that rejected you.

But I'd be livid if my kid posted that on social media. Yes even if my kid was a legal adult at the time. It's not a good look.

Even better, hang out with friends and bake a cake to celebrate all the schools that ACCEPTED you - and don't make stupid social media videos to self-congratulate.
And even better than THAT? Stop watching stupid videos on social media that make you feel bad, like a loser, or a failure. Simple - don't watch.
Getting rejected by Yale is not a failure. Getting accepted by "fill in the blank school" is a success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pathetic

Better than the usual grievance when rejected and blaming URMs.

Tik Tok rules!

[Anonymous]

My kid said a prayer and blessed each school that didn't match, including all the ones he declined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid said a prayer and blessed each school that didn't match, including all the ones he declined.

Weirdo

[Anonymous]

It’s healthy to normalize rejection to help kids learn how to cope with the feeling. I saw a school out in CA hand out rejection donuts. Kids would flash their phone screen showing their rejection letter and get a free donut. Onwards and upwards!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There must be countless cakes like this for UVA, a school which dishes out more summary rejections than almost any other, without ANY marketing. Very unfortunate for those unfortunate people who receive summary rejections, for there is no appeals process. Very sad for those unfortunate people. ;(

UVA does marketing:
- speaks at HSs during the day
- speaks at HSs in the evenings
- heavily markets on social media (Dean J- who even posts on reddit, as well as Insta, goes live, answers questions)
- they have materials they offer at events
- tours in person/info sessions
- virtual events
- they work with alum to out on programs in all states + 16 countries to add to their diversity https://uvamagazine.org/articles/admission_faqs9
- they attend college fairs and related UVA information sessions
Etc.

Each school prioritizes what marketing works best for that school. Clearly they believe a strong social media presence helps, among others things I just listed.

Liars like you should be ashamed. How dare you try to smear the name of UVA with your made-up fairytale delusions. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

What is a @summary rejection”? What does it mean?