Dealing with College Acceptance and Rejection

As April looms closer, high school seniors and community college transfer students are waiting on pins and needles. Dealing with college acceptance and rejection letters can be a very high-stress and emotional time, but there are steps that can be taken to help ease the process:

1) Keep A Routine

Just because applications are turned in and are out of immediate control does not mean students are off the hook academically! Keep study and school routines consistent, and continue to work towards success. Many high school and transfer students are tempted to slack off after they have turned in college applications, but colleges CAN revoke offers of admission, and have done so before.

Continue to work hard and partake in extracurricular activities. Such activities have much more value than an entry on a resume, and the skills learned now can help students cope with new and challenging situations in college, like meeting new friends.

2) Have A Positive Attitude

Just because applications are turned in and are out of immediate control does not mean students are off the hook academically! Keep study and school routines consistent, and continue to work towards success. Many high school and transfer students are tempted to slack off after they have turned in college applications, but colleges CAN revoke offers of admission, and have done so before.

Continue to work hard and partake in extracurricular activities. Such activities have much more value than an entry on a resume, and the skills learned now can help students cope with new and challenging situations in college, like meeting new friends.

3) Accepting a Decision

This is simply harder to do for rejections. The initial feelings may involve anger, sadness, and guilt. Rejections are always painful, and academic ones can be particularly harsh. Just remember that a rejection can be a good thing. College administrators do not reject students as a fulfilling hobby. Administrators accept or reject potential students after careful evaluation, and for a number of reasons. Perhaps an applicant listed career interests that are not directly in line with what a particular college teaches, or the admissions office thinks problems may arise in keeping up with coursework with certain students. It is better to be rejected now than to find that a certain degree does not fit a specific field or that keeping up with coursework is nearly impossible.

If students are rejected to all of the colleges they were hoping to attend, do not lose hope. There are a variety of options that can be taken. Internships, volunteer work, trade schools, and community college can be great stepping-stones to attending a university or making a career choice.

Lastly, do not forget that as important as college is, a college acceptance or rejection is never a judgment on you as an individual. It is your words, actions, and decisions that define who you are, not a degree. After all, we are all students in the school of life.

For more information or to speak to one of our staff, please contact us at (818) 758-9450 or email us at info@westvalleycounseling.org