What if I wasn't accepted to any college?

What happens when we pass out of high school and apply to colleges. Well, either we get selected by the college or we are simply rejected. The term rejection itself is quite hurting then imagine how hurting it must be to a student who is rejected by a college. The season of college acceptance brings a series of emotions to most of the students.  

Sometimes during the time of uncertainty in the college application season, the thought of being rejected also becomes a nightmare for students. Though it isn’t always the case, there is a feeling of uncertainty that is always felt.  

Though there will always be chances of being rejected we can’t afford to focus on the rejection. This doesn't mean that the world has come to an end or you are not good enough or capable enough. We must have some backup plans or plan B for such situations as well. 

There are many factors that affect the admission process of a college. Colleges might reject many talented and qualified candidates as well. So, that’s all okay. But we must have something else planned in our mind to answer the question: what's next?

Some reputed and target colleges may not approve your application if they feel that you are less likely to attend college.

So, never jump into conclusion thinking that “You are not enough” because students often come up with this mindset once they face rejection. But the fact is many times its simply Bad luck. But you can still perform well with little hard work and perseverance. 

There are other options which are available in case your application is rejected, either you can attend a community college or may take a year gap or may ask the college to evaluate the application again and reconsider one’s case.

In this post, we’ll go over your options for dealing with this setback, and discuss what you’ll have to do to keep your college plans and future ambitions on track in the face of rejection.

Make An Appeal

So how can you make an appeal? You cannot straight away write an email to your college saying that they have made a mistake by not accepting your application. Well, this is not a good idea. However you can always ask your college to reconsider your application by saying that there may be some minute error while processing your application, maybe some typing error or some clerical mistake. This sounds reasonable as well. 

This request or appeal of reconsidering your idea could be an option but there is only a little probability of you getting selected. As the college has already made up their mind and has taken the decision, it is less likely that they will change their decision. 

Some colleges, especially the public schools, have formal appeals processes where they accept appeals if there is any factual error from their side then they may reconsider your application, but some private schools like Ivy League never accept these applications. 

Your appeal will make sense only in a few scenarios, such as if you have achieved something great during this period or if your SAT or ACT scores have increased significantly. You can write a Letter of Consideration to the college, with evidence attached to the pdf file. This is always the best way to communicate.

Secondly, an important thing to keep in mind is you cannot ask the admission team to reconsider your application just because you feel that the decision made is not correct. If you do so you will further force them to reject your application.

But be clear in what you are communicating to the college and never put your frustrations or bad emotion in your appeal. Pay respect to the decision the college admission team has made.

If you want to know how to write a letter of Consideration or  LOC, you can check our article here.

Think of Community College as an Option

Now, if Appeal doesn't work, then community college might be an option. You can study in a community college for two years and then, later on, can transfer to a private school as a transfer student. So, don’t get disheartened thinking that appeal was the only option and now you are not left with any other option. 

Before making up your mind or taking a decision the first thing you need to do is to research thoroughly. Different schools have different policies for transfer students, so understand the requirements of your school you are planning to study in the future and start acting accordingly.

The advantage of attending a community college is you will have to spend very less as compared to the private colleges which offer a four-year program. You will be able to work and save money while attending school.

Even if your grades in high school are less, community colleges still give you a fair chance of attending college. During your tenure in community college maybe you can explore yourself and understand what kind of four-year degree college will be best fit for you.

However, the transfer application process is quite hectic, lengthy, and rigorous. One has to be patient enough to go through the same process again. The acceptance rates of transfer applicants are quite low. Housing, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities also differ for transfer students in some cases.   

The best thing is to plan in advance. If you do this you will have a better picture and a clearer idea of where you will land after finishing two years in a community college. 

You can always take a Year Gap

Well taking a year gap is not as bad as it sounds. If you are not ready to study at a community college and you find these above options suitable for you, then you can always consider this as an option. 

Sometimes taking a year gap can be very helpful for a student also, as you get to do something you love or may try any part-time job out there or maybe you get to spend time with yourself and understand what you want from life? You can make the best use of this time.

The best thing you can do is to plan and strategize what you will do in this one year. You can take an internship which will give you exposure to corporate or maybe to industry. You may start pursuing your passion and think of converting into a profession. You can also opt for some online courses offered to high school graduates and upgrade your skill and broader your horizon. 

So, take your time, think of what you can do best in this period and think wisely about what could be the best choice or best option for you.

There is always a Next Step 

So, stay calm, cool and focused. A rejection doesn't imply an end of the world. You can have the best opportunities waiting for you maybe you never know. So utilize your time in the best possible manner and take any of these above options as in where whichever is suitable for you. Your career path may not be the traditional or conventional one like others but it doesn't mean you are less than anyone else.