Getting a rejection in the Early Decision round is definitely not easy. But the good news is, it’s really just the start, and that one rejection has no bearing on how you’re going to do with other, similarly competitive schools. The thing about Early Decision is it comes alone and it comes first. It’s sometimes easier to tolerate a rejection when it’s preceded by several acceptance letters. College admissions are extraordinarily competitive these days and the Ivies are just more competitive than any other time or place in history. That’s it. It doesn’t get harder. And Columbia in particular has just a 4% acceptance rate! So, if you’ve been rejected in the Early Decision round, don’t despair. We have some advice about how you might go forward. (And don’t worry, it’s really not that much more work!)

An Important Pause

You’ve been going at 100mph since at least the start of the college application process, and likely well before it. Given college admissions are so incredibly competitive (see the above paragraph), many of the students we work with are often focusing on a college admissions strategy by sophomore year. Classes, standardized testing, clubs, family, a social life…it’s a lot! And on top of that, the emotional toll of a rejection can be super heavy. It is TOTALLY normal to feel sad, defeated, or really really tired. 

So, take a few days to recoup. Just…do nothing. Be sad if you’re sad And use that time to process your feelings and recharge your batteries. Then, in two or three days, it’s time to get a plan together.

The Plan

The first thing you’ll want to do is take a look at your college list. For the vast majority of applicants, a complete overhaul isn’t necessary. This really depends on how much work you put into your list in the first place. We encourage all of our students to really get to know what their preferences are in a school. What kind of vibe are you looking for? How about academic programs? Take a look at the average acceptance ranges for each of the schools on your list. Where do you fall? 

What you decide to do here is really up to your comfort level. As mentioned, getting rejected from Columbia doesn’t mean you should take other Ivies off the list. But if you’re looking for comfort and ease, you might want to put a few of your targets into the reach category, or add another safety schools. If you’re feeling confident, you might not need to do much. Either way, we definitely don’t recommend doing a complete overhaul. Trust the work you’ve done.

The Essay

We spend a lot of time working on writing with our students. With a college landscape in which the most competitive schools have acceptance rates in the single digits, standing out and getting ahead should be really high priorities. You see, acceptance rates are higher because more colleges are businesses and their endowments benefit from having lower acceptance rates. The way to drive down acceptance rates into the single digits is to advertise to more applicants. So, when applying to the Ivies, assume you’re competing against the largest applicant pool in history. We don’t say that to scare you. Rather, we want you to ask yourself the question, “how can I stand out?” Many applicants are going to have the same test scores and grades as you. So, how should the admissions counselor choose between two statistically equal candidates for just one spot? One way is to let your personality shine.  

People are often surprised to hear that personality matters when it comes to college admissions. Put yourself in the shoes of the admission counselor. They’re likely sitting in a room for days and days sifting through stacks and stacks of applications. Not only does everyone blur together, but many of those applications might even be boring. You don’t need to sound super intellectual in your essay. In fact, you shouldn’t. Don’t write about something grandiose or tragic, either. Just tell a simple story with a beginning, middle, and end that highlights two or three of your unique personality traits. Are you a good listener who’s really curious? Tell a story that shows these attributes. Be charming and wherever possible, be funny! If your current Common App essay doesn’t do the trick, overhaul it or tweak it so it does.

Getting Some Help

It’s natural to have your confidence shaken after an Early Decision rejection. Many students find it helpful to get some support from a professional who can help them devise a new strategy. We offer what we call the “It’s Going to Be Okay” package, especially for students who’ve faced bad news in the Early Decision round. It’s a two-week, very intensive boot camp that helps kids create a very specific plan of action with easily digestible steps.

Getting a rejection stinks, no matter what. There’s no way to sugarcoat. But we don’t want you to think that this is a major problem. Even straight-A students miss answers on tests. It doesn’t mean you’re not going to get into a great school that’s the right fit for you. You just need to take a half-step back and do some tweaking of your original plan.

Need help with a college essay? Call us. We’re experts at helping students standout with writing.