How to deal with rejection...

[aplefka]

Just be happy you only got rejected by your number one school, and not your number one and two after having everyone tell you you were a shoe-in for both. All that bullshit they feed you about SATs, ACTs, and GPAs is bullshit. I got over 2000 on my SAT, got a 32 overall on my ACT, and my GPA was over 4.2 even having only one weighted class out of my last eight. Extracurriculars, check. Community involvement, check. Everything was there, it just didn't work out for me.

I know how it feels man. Honestly, all I can say is that it'll take time and maybe it'll make you realize that in real life there's more than just grades and scores. My only regret at this point is that I took school as seriously as I did at times. I went from all set to be going to one of the top private schools in the nation in film (USC) to attending a state school where there are so many idiots you'd think college was compulsory. Just live up the rest of this year because life will change after and you'll regret all your hard work being for naught.

 

[ranmaniac]

If you get rejected by the University of Phoenix, then you have something to be worried about.

Steven Spielberg applied to attend film school at the Long Beach School of Theater, Film and Television three separate times, and was rejected each time. So just because a school rejects you doesn't mean you have to give up on your dreams.

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: BradT
Well, there really isn't a whole lot to say. I got flat out rejected by Cornell, and damn does it sting. It was my number one school since the start of this school year for me. I met with some alums for an interview and they got me hooked even more. It just sucks when so much hard work only ends up providing miserable news like this. At least I am not near tears or anything. I just feel sick, but not depressed. This was supposed to be the start of my life...but now my future isn't looking so bright. How have others dealt with rejection?
Also, I know I am jumping the gun on this, but what is transferring like? Difficult?

Sorry I cannot post a thread with some happier material, but I just don't feel like leaving my room now, and I had to vent.

Thanks.

Is getting in on the regular decision dead line a possibility? If so, try again. If not, then fuck'em. If they don't want you, you sure has hell don't need them. There are plenty of other great schools out there. Just start applying. Consider leaving the east coast. There are plenty of solid, affordable schools in the midwest, rockies, and west coast. Considering engineering? Apply to U of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Purdue. All excellent engineering schools along with being state schools. Or what about Cal Tech, or UT Austin? Georgia Tech?

I didn't get rejected from any schools, but I didn't apply to many high-powered schools either. I was effectively rejected from one of my first choices when they provided basically zero financial aid. I ended up with a great experience at a state school which rolled into a Ph.D. from Notre Dame and a six figure salary after graduation. I got out of undergrad paying less than $40K total, and then got paid to go to grad school.

I don't know what you planned on studying at Cornell, but if it is engineering then in all honesty they aren't going to teach you engineering $30K a year better than a state school. Remember, education is an investment in yourself and your future. However, the investment comes at a financial cost. You need to figure out how much that cost is going to be worth over time. It isn't an easy question to answer, as there are many factors relating to the value of the experience you will have in college. However, if you choose to spend $140,000+ in tuition alone over 4 years, you had better make sure it will pay off in the long run.

Hope this puts your situation in a more fiscal perspective.

R

 

[Imdmn04]

The higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment.

 

[imported_Imp]

Just get over it. You'll be seeing a lot more rehections later on once you start applying for bigger jobs/more schools.

That or do what I do: low expectations. Go into everything with the expectation that you'll fail, so anything other than failing will be bliss.

 

[sthaznpride17]

Hey man, I got rejected from Cornell too last year (I'm a freshman at the U of Washington right now) and while it did hurt, one thing I realized is that everything works out for the better. I am having a blast right now and doing well in my classes. The thing to remember is that you can always suceed if you have the will power and drive to do so.

 

[Mo0o]

Look on the brightside, it's your #1 and not your backup. Things could be a lot worse. What other schools are you looking at?

 

[maziwanka]

OP, i wouldn't worry about it AT ALL.

i got rejected from my first choice (early decision) and it was one of the best things to ever happen to me. i would've been miserable at that school.

things work out and you'll be more than happy in the end. besides, this is only the first step and undergrad isnt that big of a deal. just try to enjoy yourself and you will love your time there, where ever it may be.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: BradT
Well, there really isn't a whole lot to say. I got flat out rejected by Cornell, and damn does it sting. It was my number one school since the start of this school year for me. I met with some alums for an interview and they got me hooked even more. It just sucks when so much hard work only ends up providing miserable news like this. At least I am not near tears or anything. I just feel sick, but not depressed. This was supposed to be the start of my life...but now my future isn't looking so bright. How have others dealt with rejection?
Also, I know I am jumping the gun on this, but what is transferring like? Difficult?

Sorry I cannot post a thread with some happier material, but I just don't feel like leaving my room now, and I had to vent.

Thanks.

It's difficult.

And.. suck it up princess. The higher you aim, the larger the fall. Though thats no reason to not have aggressive goals, have the ability to cope with the fact you won't win all the time.. otherwise.. it's not a fun way to live.

 

[soydios]

let's be clear on "rejected". you were not rejected as a person. your offer for admission was declined. that is all. it does not reflect on YOU. college admissions is tough. they take only a few people from each point across the whole spectrum. I know, I went through this a year ago. and let me tell you, I'm very happy where I am now. it always works out for the best if you work at it.

 

[MyThirdEye]

rejected /= Declined

you'

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: badkarma1399
Well, Cornell is an Ivy League school, so I mean that alone should have kept your expectations from getting too high. But if it makes you feel any better, Cornell is in the middle of nowhere. At least now you can have a chance to go to school, oh i don't know, near civilization maybe.

QFT.

(My brother went to Cornell Law and I visited him there.)

MotionMan

 

[invidia]

I can top your rejection.


I just got declined from 28 jobs I've spent applying for the last 3 months. I just graduated last week and still have no job. My life sucks even more as my bills stack and some loans that need to be repay. Each day you see me may be considered worst day of my life.

 

[Q]

If you think this is the end of your ideal life, it's not. It's not a big deal, that's a hard school to get in, just get in somewhere else, and once you do/start school, you won't give a shit in plain words.

 

[IAteYourMother]

eh, when i was waiting for acceptances, I pretty much willed myself to expect almost all rejections, and I was pleasantly surprised. Don't expect to get into your top schools and look beyond them. Know that you'll be happy with whatever schools you applied to. After all, why would you apply to a school you wouldn't want to go to?

 

[senseamp]

That sucks, dude. I was pulling for ya in the other thread. But all is not lost. People do transfer to Cornell.

 

[BurnItDwn]

So, go to a different school then?
A degree is a degree.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: invidia
I can top your rejection.


I just got declined from 28 jobs I've spent applying for the last 3 months. I just graduated last week and still have no job. My life sucks even more as my bills stack and some loans that need to be repay. Each day you see me may be considered worst day of my life.

i know how that feels man and yea it sucks, i went ~6 months jobless, and yea its not fun, all i can tell you is to start doing something even its its crap like retail, crap money > no money and keep looking

 

[StormRider]

Originally posted by: BradT
Well, there really isn't a whole lot to say. I got flat out rejected by Cornell, and damn does it sting. It was my number one school since the start of this school year for me. I met with some alums for an interview and they got me hooked even more. It just sucks when so much hard work only ends up providing miserable news like this. At least I am not near tears or anything. I just feel sick, but not depressed. This was supposed to be the start of my life...but now my future isn't looking so bright. How have others dealt with rejection?
Also, I know I am jumping the gun on this, but what is transferring like? Difficult?

Sorry I cannot post a thread with some happier material, but I just don't feel like leaving my room now, and I had to vent.

Thanks.

A lot of times things that seemed really important when you were younger, doesn't seem so important when you're older.

What will happen is this:

You will go to another good school. You will do well and be happy at this other school. You might even meet the love of your life at this other school. You will graduate and get a great paying job and do the type of work that makes you happy. You will marry this love of your life and have wonderful children. And during the quiet times of your future you will look back on your life and be thankful that Cornell had rejected you.

 

[FoBoT]

there are several thousands of universities in the USA

 

[Vonkhan]

have no fear, I have the dispatched teh WHAAAAAAAAAAAmbulance to your location

seriously, just move on - it's not the end of your life

 

[Homerboy]

Even Andy Bernard got into Cornell.

As far as the OP is concerned... if you get this down on yourself after being rejected by 1 single college, man you got a LONG road ahead of you. I know you're still young now, but you will soon learn you almost never get what you want out of life and its more disappointment than anything. Welcome to adulthood.

 

[Xavier434]

I got rejected from my school of choice. It turned out that my second school of choice was the better pick for me anyways for various reasons beyond academics. It's funny how things work out sometimes. After you start going to whatever school you choose, you probably won't care anymore.

 

[SLCentral]

Sorry that you got rejected; it was VERY competitive this year, with people that had 2300+ SAT's and almost perfect GPA's getting rejected, not even deferred. Best of luck to you with your other choices.

I was deferred, so I just have three months to wait until rejection.

 

[Nerva]

where else have you applied? getting rejected sucks, but you have to just plow through it. i mean even after college, you have to face rejection from jobs and shit. plenty more ahead. cheer up.