If you’ve landed here, it probably means you didn’t get the news you wanted from Swarthmore. We’re really sorry to hear that—rejection is tough, and it’s even harder when it’s from a school you were genuinely excited about. But try not to let this discourage you. This one decision doesn’t capture who you are or what you’re capable of. You’ll find a great school that’s the perfect fit (yes, you will go to college, we promise), and you will be successful! We promise!
Swarthmore has a 7% overall acceptance rate and a 16% ED acceptance rate. That didn’t mean it was twice as likely for you to get into Swarthmore ED, and in fact, there are about a thousand students in the same boat as you right now. It’s natural to feel a bit panicked right now, but there are concrete steps you can take to get through the next few weeks. Let’s walk through them together.
Step One: Take a Little Break
“No way! I ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t take a break! There’s so much to get done!!” Okay, deep breath, everyone. We’re about to give you some sage advice: you need to take a breather. You’ve been going full throttle, pushing yourself to the max (maybe even past it!), and now you’ve hit a major setback that feels like it’s thrown your plans out the window. You’re probably feeling knocked off balance, and that’s completely normal. So here’s what you need to do: take a couple of days to rest, process what you’re feeling, and give your brain a chance to recharge.
Our goal is to keep you from burning out. You may have a lot of work ahead of you, so once you’ve taken a day to just veg out, we’ll be here with some clear action steps to help you tackle what’s next.
Step Two: Strategize
We’re not suggesting a complete overhaul of everything you’ve already done. Start by taking a careful look at your college list. If you’ve been working on applications for 8 to 10 schools with a balanced mix of safeties, targets, and reaches, you likely don’t need to make major edits. You may want to consider ED2 or swap out a few schools, but avoid panicking and suddenly adding a dozen new schools. With our long-term clients, we always build college lists with backup options in mind in case ED doesn’t go as planned—hopefully, you did the same. Now, if this doesn’t describe you and you put all your eggs in the Swarthmore basket, you have some work ahead of you.
After an ED rejection, we get a lot of new clients who only applied to their ED school and maybe have half-worked on a few other apps. So, this will be a good time to expand your college list. We recommend having 8 to 12 schools with a balanced selection of reaches, targets, and safeties. As you look to add schools, consider what you loved about Swarthmore. Academics should always be your first priority—after all, college is about learning. But once you’ve covered that, think about factors like school size, location, campus culture, and even weather. If Swarthmore’s appeal was its small liberal arts setting in the Northeast, you’re in luck! Because that’s where a lot of those are! If location isn’t a huge deal and the liberal arts part was what mattered to you, then there are schools all across the South, Midwest, and West that fit that bill, too. Keep in mind that not every school on your list will check every box. Focus on what’s truly important to you, and identify your deal breakers. For example, if you don’t think you can handle sub-zero temps, maybe don’t apply to Carleton in Minnesota. Prioritize what matters most, and keep an open mind where you can.
Now, this applies to everyone: make sure you pick an ED2 school. For most students, one of the other schools in your top 3 to 5 will offer ED2, and we strongly encourage you to apply. We know that ED2 can boost your chances significantly, just like ED, because colleges care about their yield rates.
Step Three: Essays
Once your college list is set—whether that meant building a whole new one or just making a few tweaks—it’s time to focus on your supplemental essays. Our blog has detailed guides for writing tons of these top-tier college supplements (and even some of the more common college essay questions for schools we haven’t covered), but before diving into those, there’s something even more crucial to tackle: the Common App essay.
If we were the betting type, you probably need to rewrite your Common App essay. Sorry! It’s probably really cliched. That’s not a knock on your writing—we’re sure it’s strong! But it may not give you the standout factor you’re hoping for. After ED rejections, we often see essays centered on familiar topics like overcoming a significant challenge or showcasing a major achievement. While those are valuable parts of your story, they’re better suited for other application sections. Your essay is the perfect space to reveal something unique about your personality and let admissions officers see a side of you they won’t find anywhere else.
We know that the thought of writing a completely new essay in just two weeks sounds daunting, but trust us—it’s doable. We help students tackle this every year, and we can help you, too!
The toughest part of the Common App essay is actually brainstorming a great topic, which often takes the most time and energy. Our top tip? Frame your brainstorm in terms of a story. Think about qualities or traits that aren’t easily captured in the rest of your application. Do you have an unusual hobby or even a common one you’re deeply passionate about? We’ve seen a ton of successful essays about things as mundane as cooking! Maybe your initial essay was a cliche take on family, but that doesn’t mean it ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t be about family – just think about a more unique or personal story. Maybe there’s a unique quirk or characteristic that makes you stand out. If you’re feeling stuck, try asking friends or family how they’d describe you, then think back to stories that bring those words to life.
Almost any story can make for a great Common App essay—it just needs to be told like a story. Strong stories have a clear beginning, middle, and end, use vivid, descriptive language, and draw the reader right into the moment, making them feel like they’re experiencing it alongside you. Oh and by the way, you need a story with a happy ending. We know not all stories have happy endings in real life, but your college essays should. Don’t bum out the admissions team, please!
Step Four: Ask for Help
We get it—getting rejected is tough, and it’s totally normal to feel stuck about what to do next. But here’s some good news: we offer a special “It’s Going to Be Okay” package specifically for students looking to regroup after an ED rejection. This intensive two-week Boot Camp is designed to help you strategize and get back on track. Whether it’s rewriting your Common App essay, tackling up to 10 schools’ worth of supplements, or polishing other parts of your application, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support.
Rejected and don’t know what to do? Reach out to us ASAP.