I Didn't Get into My Dream School, Now What?

First off, it's ok. Despite feeling like this may be the end of your world, it's not. It is important that you understand that one school's rejection does not in any way diminish your accomplishments and goals. You still have other institutions that did admit you and those schools can still grant you an equal or better overall college experience. Focusing on your end goal, your aspirations after college, can help you navigate the options you have in front of you. There are many factors that influence your final admission decision including cost, location, opportunities, etc. If deep down you still really want to go to that one dream school, maybe you cannot attend there that semester, but that doesn't mean never.

There are many ways to get into the school of your dreams. In the US, students can transfer academic credits from one institution to another to complete similar programs. That being said, if you do not get admitted to your top school for freshman year, you can always apply as a transfer for sophomore year. To increase the odds of admission, it is important you strive for academic excellence that first year. In addition, maybe you wait till you get your Bachelor's and apply to that top school's graduate program (i.e. Masters or Speciality Degree or Doctoral Degree).

It is common for many students to feel pressure to get admitted into the best of the best institutions, but attending those schools can come with increased academic pressure, competition, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. Just because a school is ranked #1 in a field does not mean the student experience is amazing as well or that the students in those fields really enjoyed their time at those schools. Often we set high expectations for unknown experiences and reality can disappoint. If you can talk with the students at these institutions, you can get a better idea of what it will be like.

At the end of the day, not getting into your dream school is not going to stop you from being who you are and accomplishing what you set out to achieve. It does not define you. It truly is that school's loss, not yours. If you're trying to get hired at a specific company, chances are they recruit from more than one school. If you are trying to get into a certain industry, there are other schools just as good that you did get into! Lastly, it's only ever over when you give up. Worst case, maybe you have to wait a year and apply again. Use that gap year to develop skills and learn more about yourself. When you re-apply, you can share all that you've learned, which will make great talking points in interviews.

If you are looking for more 1:1 help with college applications, schedule a consult with a member of our team.