During my seventh grade summer, a family friend told me about his experiences at Stanford University, and since then, Stanford became my dream school. Throughout high school, I maintained almost perfect grades in the difficult classes and packed on a variety of extracurriculars to try to get in. I applied restrictive early action in the fall and had an interview with Stanford in November. On December 15th, after track practice and a yearly dentist appointment, I came home to log into my Stanford University portal to see a rejection. While I prepared for a rejection because of the extremely low acceptance rate, I was still devastated.

During the month of March, many college decisions come out, and for some, it is the happiest month ever, as they get accepted into their dream schools. However, for others, they feel as though their dreams are shattered with a rejection from their dream school. While it is extremely difficult to deal with a college rejection, there are some healthy and effective ways to overcome the intense sadness and disappointment that come with a college rejection.

One way is to take part in self care, which is defined as “a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being” (verywellmind.com). Some self care activities include going on a walk, taking a nice bath, baking, or anything that you may find relaxing and stress-relieving. More self-care tips can be found on Yorba Linda High School’s Self Care Club Instagram @selfcareclubylhs under the “self care tips” Instagram highlight.

Another way is to not obsess over the “what ifs” (walnuteducation.com). When receiving a rejection, students might continually think “What if I tried harder in this class?” or “What if I wrote my essay better?” This unhealthy method of thinking may make a student think that they did not work hard enough throughout high school or that they were not good enough to get into this school. Getting or not getting into a college does not define your worth, and it is not healthy to dwell on what you could have done. Instead, you should focus on your future and get excited over the options you do have.

Also, you should not compare yourself to others. It is damaging to think that a person is better than you because they got into a certain college and you did not. Everyone has their own strengths, and colleges may think someone is a better fit for their school based on those strengths, so an admissions officer might believe that your dream school would not be the best for you. Lauren Nakano (12) believes that although it may be “cheesy,” a “rejection is a new direction,” and “you are meant to go to the school that you get into.”

While this month may be difficult for some seniors, it is important to look at the positives of whatever school you choose to attend. Remain idealistic about the school you are attending, even if it was not your dream school, and find clubs and activities that will be fun for you when you attend the school. Good luck on your future endeavors class of 2022!