So, you’ve been rejected ED from Duke. First of all, we’re sorry, and we’re sure you’re having a lot of feelings about this right now. And, since you’re here, you probably want to know what you can do in this moment to take control of this situation. We want to say that Duke is a crazy hard school to get into – they haven’t released precise data since 2021, but we know their acceptance rate hovers around 5%, and their ED acceptance rate is about 15%. That doesn’t mean it’s 3x more likely to get into Duke ED. It means you have about the same chance you would if you applied to Georgetown, Berkeley, or UVA – aka, hard. That also means this is not a reflection of you or your talents or smarts or overall coolness, but rather that these schools have very limited spots and have to leave lots and lots of deserving students out of the mix.
Rejected Early Decision from Columbia University 2024-2025
If you’re here, we know you probably just got rejected from Columbia, and you don’t know what to do next – we’re sorry that happened, and we know it feels awful. First of all, this admissions decision is not a reflection of who you are as a person or of your hard work and talent. It’s important to remember that, especially in the Ivy League, there are countless students who are more than qualified to get in, and there’s simply not enough space for all of you. You will go to an amazing school, even if it doesn't feel like it right now.
Rejected Early Action or Early Decision from U Chicago 2024-2025
No one wants to be rejected, but if you are reading this blog, it happened. First off, sorry! Whether you applied ED or EA, the University of Chicago was important enough for you to apply early. Especially if you applied ED, this might feel like a major setback, but application season is far from over, and it's time to pivot! We want to help by telling you how.
Rejected Early Action from Princeton 2024-2025
Being rejected by a dream school is a serious punch to the gut. We know you’re smart, capable, and would thrive at Princeton. You got your application together to apply Early to and Ivy, after all. You were ahead of the pack, certain of your strongest path, and ready to move on to college and beyond. Princeton has kept their acceptance rate private in recent years, but it’s estimated to be between 4% and 6%. The Early acceptance rate is significantly higher, but not so high that Princeton can be treated as a target by, really, anyone. It’s a reach no matter how impressive you are. Unless you’re a recruited athlete (and really even then), there is no certainty with Princeton — as you’ve now experienced.
Rejected Early Decision from Barnard College 2024-2025
Rejection is never easy, and getting turned down by your ED school can really sting. While it may not help much at the moment, keep in mind that Barnard has an 8% acceptance rate. Single digits!! That’s crazy competitive, so you shouldn’t take this rejection personally. Not getting into Barnard ED doesn’t mean you won’t get into other great schools. In fact, we can confidently say that you will end up at a college, even if you don’t know where just yet.
Rejected Early Decision from Bowdoin 2024-2025
If you’re here, we’re guessing you got rejected from Bowdoin. First of all, we want to say we’re sorry, we know rejection sucks, and it’s probably suckier when it’s from a school you were so excited about. We hope you don’t get too down on yourself because this rejection is not a reflection of who you are as a person, and you will go to a great school and go on to do great things!
Rejected Early Decision from Carnegie Mellon 2024-2025
We know getting rejected is the worst, and getting rejected from your early decision school can be especially rough. Carnegie Mellon is a very hard school to get into, the early decision acceptance rate is 14%, compared to an 11% overall acceptance rate. We tell you this so you know that you’re not alone in this — there are a lot of other students in the same boat as you, and we know for a fact that even if you’re not going to Carnegie Mellon, you are going to go to an awesome school and find success in your life.
Rejected Early Decision from Amherst 2024-2025
Getting rejected hurts. It kinda hurts more when you get rejected from your ED school, especially if it was your dream school. We know nerd stuff like facts and figures might not make you feel way better, but Amherst is a very competitive school. They boast a 10% acceptance rate, and just because you didn’t get into Amherst ED doesn’t mean you’re not going to get in anywhere else. We can say with 100% certainty that you will go to college, you just might not know exactly where right now. If you’ve been rejected ED from Amherst, don’t give up hope! We have some advice on what you can do next.
Rejected from Brown Early Decision 2024-2025
Receiving a rejection from Brown can be a gut punch. Students who apply Early Decision to Brown tend to pick the university for very specific reasons, and there may not be another school of Brown’s caliber that fully fits the bill. But Brown isn’t the only strong school with a completely open curriculum, so there are options and we’re going to help you see them, pursue them, and receive an acceptance letter. First, let’s do a bit of an autopsy of your Brown rejection.
Rejected Early Decision from Columbia 2023
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!)
Rejected Restricted Early Action from Yale 2023
Experiencing the disappointment of getting a dreaded rejection letter from your dream school during the Early Decision phase can be truly disheartening. You've invested your heart, soul, dedication, and countless hours into becoming an exceptional candidate. It's crucial to remember that this outcome doesn't define your worth or your potential. Your bright future still awaits, and there are other really, really good options out there.
Rejected Early Decision from Dartmouth 2023
Getting a rejection letter from your dream Early Decision school can be really tough. It’s natural to feel deflated. You've dedicated your heart, soul, time, and countless hours to becoming an outstanding candidate. Your bright future still lies ahead, and there are other exceptional options available. College admissions have unquestionably become fiercely competitive, and the Ivy League is in a category of its own. Dartmouth’s acceptance rate is just 6% according to U.S. News & World Report. But keep in mind that a Dartmouth rejection doesn’t mean the Ivies are out of your league. Here’s our advice about staying on track for the rest of your reaches:
Rejected Early Decision from Cornell 2023
Experiencing the disappointment of a rejection letter from your dream school can be disheartening. You’ve put your heart and soul into getting into Cornell Early Decision. It can be crushing not to get what you want. But it’s really important to remember that this outcome doesn’t define your worth, your potential, or your future. There are still bright things on the horizon for you despite this setback. College admissions have undeniably become exceptionally competitive. In fact, Cornell’s acceptance rate is only 7%! And by the way, a rejection from Cornell doesn’t mean you can’t apply to other Ivies regular decision, either.
Rejected from UVA Early Decision 2023
Receiving a rejection letter from your dream school in the Early Decision round can seem like a heavy blow. You’ve put in countless hours of hard work to be a strong candidate and had high hopes for your future at UVA. It’s really important to remember, however, that the outcome here isn’t a reflection of your potential (or your worth). College admissions have become incredibly competitive and UVA’s acceptance rate is just 19%, according to U.S. News and World. And by the way, we don’t think this means you’re not qualified to get into similarly competitive schools. So, don’t despair. Read our guide below on what you should do next:
Rejected from NYU Early Decision
We understand that receiving a rejection from your dream school, like NYU, in the Early Decision round can be disheartening. You’ve invested countless hours making yourself a great candidate and had a clear vision of your future there. First and foremost, we want to emphasize that this outcome is not a reflection of your worth or your potential. College admissions have become exceptionally competitive! And NYU’s acceptance rate, according to U.S. News & World Report, is only about 12%.
Rejected from Harvard Restricted Early Action 2023
Receiving that deflating rejection letter from your dream school during the Early Decision phase can be really disheartening. You’ve poured your heart, soul, sweat, and tears into becoming a standout candidate. It’s really important to keep in mind that this outcome doesn’t reflect your value or your potential. You still have a bright future ahead. College admissions have become incredibly tough. I mean, Harvard’s acceptance rate is about 3%. (3!!!) And by the way, a rejection from Harvard doesn’t mean you’re not a qualified candidate for other Ivy League universities. So, don’t get too discouraged.
Rejected from USC Early Action 2023
We know it doesn’t feel great to get rejected from your top-choice school. You spent a lot of time working to get in and really envisioned yourself there. Before we go any further, we want to make sure you know that it’s not personal. Like, really! College admissions are insanely competitive these days.
Rejected from Duke Early Decision
Getting rejected can be really awful. We know you had your heart set on Duke, but it’s important to remember that the college admissions process is extremely competitive. So much so that Duke’s acceptance rate is about 6% these days. That’s crazy low! The good news is, things aren’t hopeless. You’re still going to get in and go somewhere great. Yes, it’s going to take a bit more work, but you can do it. (And a lot of the work is already done). Here are our tips on what to do next:
Rejected from Michigan Early Decision 2023
Getting rejected from your dream school can be really tough. We want you to know that admissions are really competitive. In fact, the admissions rate for the University of Michigan is only 18%, and that includes in state. It’s a lot harder now than it was a generation ago. Additionally, we have some thoughts on what you should do next and in the run-up to your next round of applications.
Rejected from U Chicago Early Decision
The college admissions process is at its most competitive in human history. If you applied Early Decision to the University of Chicago and you were rejected, we want you to know that you’re still amazing. It’s not a reflection of who you are. And there are things you can do to move forward. We’ve put together a guide of what you should do next: