It’s that time of the year again; colleges are finally getting back to students about the outcome of their applications. Both happiness and disappointment fill the air. While rejection can be quite complicated and difficult to deal with, it is not impossible to break free and come to terms with the decision made.

The first step in dealing with a rejection is to fully accept it. It may feel quite surreal at first, but it’s really important to find your closure.

Remember that the reason behind your rejection is not always clear. Senior class advisor Mrs. Laura Stewart says that, “The way that colleges pick [prospective students] is somewhat of a lottery—it’s not always logical.”

Ranks do not matter most. While the prestige and brand of a university is an important factor to consider when where to apply, realize that ranks should not be your top priority. A university in some top ten list might actually not be for you. As Mii Daraknanda (12) adds, “find a place that fits you and you will thrive there.” Being a small fish in a big pond increases the stress and work-load and may not always allow you to realize your true potential.

It’s not always about the accolades on your application. Often times, in order to fulfill their own requirements of a diverse student body, colleges may be forced to pick only five applications from a region when in fact, there were fifty eligible applicants.

Don’t take it personally. You are not the sum of 500 words of an essay that you submitted to a university. While this may be a setback, remember that your application highlights only a limited portion of your skills, talents and thought processes.

Because ISB has the system of safety, matches, and reach schools in place, you should be expecting a variety of responses from the places you apply. Aim Samanthai (12) comments, “If you know you’re going to get in to all your ten colleges, you may not be pushing yourself hard enough.”

Rejections can open new horizons for you. You could be forced to explore another career or major.  Ask yourself, “what are my options?” and think about a route you would have never thought of otherwise, whether that be a gap year or changing majors or colleges.

Believe it or not, rejections allow you to improve yourself. Christian Pellegrini (12) raises an excellent point. “An application is in the context of what you have currently achieved.” If you do wish to re-apply to a university you were initially rejected from, “[what you achieve] in the future could potentially change the answer of the university.”

Don’t punish yourself, because rejections are just another part of life. Being open and honest about your experience can help you get over it sooner. In times like these, it is imperative to surround yourself with the comfort of family and friends. Maggie Turner (12) recommends “find[ing] a way to release your anxiousness in a healthy way, like [going for a run].

Keep in mind that this is not the end of the road. Things often have a funny way of working out. In the future, you might even be thankful for not being accepted to a certain university because you might found better opportunities elsewhere.

Remember that no matter where you study, it is your level of passion that determines your success!

Nishtha Jaiswal