My first choice school rejected me. Now what?

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My first choice school rejected me. Now what?

Before I state the obvious, let’s sit on some other simple but easy-to-forget facts.

1. Though you may not have been accepted to your dream school, you will get into college.

2. This one rejection letter does not define your future.

3. You are capable, uniquely skilled, and worthy of going to a great school.

4. God does have a plan for your life and He will provide. Now, I know I recently said that He doesn’t care which college you go to, but He does have plans to provide for you and grow you to be more like Him.  He will provide.

5. Despite all of the above, you still feel super disappointed… and that is completely okay.  It is valid to feel sad and disappointed that what you thought was the best plan, isn’t going to unfold.  

6. It is not okay to allow those feelings to tell you that you are somehow less worthy, smart, valuable, fill-in-the-blank-here because your #1 college sent you a “we’re sorry” letter.  THAT is a lie. College’s don’t define your value. Christ does.

Now take a deep breath and read 1-6 again. No, I’m not kidding.

So, your #1 school rejected you.  You tell me what happens now.  Will you kick and scream and cry about it? Okay.  Will you blame yourself for a bad application or a not quite high enough GPA or SAT scores?  Fine–waste of time–but fine. Will you eventually stop feeling the sting of rejection? Yes. Will you get into another great school? YES.  Will you go off to college in August and quickly forget about your first choice school?  More than likely, YES.

At the end of the day, your college experience is what you make of it.  Whether it’s University #1 or University #3, the experience you have is totally up to you.  And take it from a girl who got into to her #1 choice and a year later, transferred to her # over-my-dead-body choice school, you may be surprised where life’s turns take you.