To those who were rejected from their Early Decision/Action schools,
I remember being in your shoes. Waking up from a restless nap and checking my portal the second 4:59 turned to 5:00 p.m. I remember staring blankly at the computer screen -- feeling my heart sink.
"We cannot offer you a place in the Class of 2019."
I remember reading the sentence over and over. I wasn't dreaming. The cold, hard truth slapped me in the face. My dream school was just that -- it wasn't going to become a reality.
I remember thinking: every second of your life people tell you, if you work hard enough, you can accomplish anything -- the sky is the limit. And I couldn't be more infuriated. I felt like every time someone told that anything was possible, they were lying straight to my face. Every time someone told me I was a great applicant for my first-choice school, they were just telling me what I wanted to hear. I felt like that up until this very moment, that I had such an inflated ego and the truth of the matter was: I am worthless.
And that was the pervasive tone of my life. Nothing but sulking at home, watching Netflix, scarfing down Chinese food -- unwilling to accept comfort from anyone.
And I'm not going to sugarcoat the situation and preach that this feeling melted away with ease and in no time, that I was back to myself and everything worked out: blah, blah, blah, insert cliché quote and mainstream uplifting pop-song bullshit.
In all honesty, the recovery was not immediate. It took time. There were times when I would just question what was even the point anymore? I had this exaggerated pessimistic attitude that nothing was going to work out ever. I was convinced that some higher being, fulfilling some cruel sadistic urges, was sitting there laughing at me -- seeing how much I could suffer. Me, someone who worked just as hard as my peers, heard about how their college application process was going swimmingly, when I was struggling to figure out what the next step was. Me, the girl who had her heart set on one school, desperately trying to find others to even consider her.
Then came March 27. The day things started to work out. I got into my third-choice school. And I was over the moon. I remember talking to my friends earlier in the day, who also applied, and we said it was impossible to get in -- yadda, yadda, yadda. But surprisingly, I did. And I was in shock. In that very moment when the huge "Yes!" came onto my computer screen, my confidence was restored and I felt like I could finally breathe. But even with the admission, I didn't feel quite back to normal. Was I going to like this school as much as I loved my initial first-choice school? I've researched it, but what if the on-campus feel makes me feel otherwise?
And I had no idea what I was in for. Stepping on campus and just watching as students floated by, buzzing from class to class -- I felt my heart swell. And walking around and seeing all the different buildings made me even more excited. And by the time the tours, info-sessions, and panels were finished, I remember thinking: I feel at home. I can still remember later that night, hopping into bed, and staring at the ceiling thinking to myself, "Damn, life is so good right now" -- something I haven't felt since December.
So, I know you may be reading this and thinking "yeah, it might've worked out for me but how can I promise you that it's going to work out for you?" And my answer is simply this: everything falls into place and everything happens for a reason -- but more often than not, the reasons do not come immediately; it takes time, patience, and a positive attitude. Hang in there -- a rather hackneyed piece of advice, I know. But trust me, this one decision does not define you. Getting rejected may very well be the biggest blessing in disguise. Each and every one of you is amazing and deserving of a spot at an amazing institution. Recognize this. Don't beat yourself up over a decision in which you had no say in the matter. You're worthy and freaking incredible. Don't forget that.
From,
A girl who couldn't be happier she got rejected early decision
