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.

I feel like it’s weirdly fixated on the rejections rather than the acceptances. To each his own.

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.

Sorry your kid didn't get in.

My DS’s school had a tradition of having a bonfire for all their rejection letters at the end of senior year. I think the vast majority of notifications are digital only now so it may have stopped.

Driven by the need for social media. I pity this generation.

People like the spotlight—positive or negative.

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.

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. 👌

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. ;(

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares

Your kid got rejected, I see.

Bake a cake and decorate away!

no, didn't apply

This is no less or more goofy than an exorbitant bed party. I say let them make rejection cakes with their friends if it relieves some of the admissions pressure.

Next week it won’t be a trend anymore so it won’t matter.

Anonymous wrote:No one cares

Your kid got rejected, I see.

Bake a cake and decorate away!

No one cares

This is a healthy way to deal with college rejections:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/04/25/college-acceptance-cakes-rejection-trend/83236768007/?tbref=hp