College Rejection letters
The final year of high school is riddled with distractions: "Senioritis," hormones and emotional turmoil at a time when major decisions, challenging academic courses and community commitments must be fulfilled.
There are few students who know exactly what career to choose and which colleges to apply to, but after much consideration and planning, decisions are made, college applications and essays are careful written (and rewritten) and finally submitted to the colleges of choice.
Spring arrives and the long-anticipated college letters arrive in the mail. After such a build-up, a letter of rejection can be a devastating blow. No matter how confident your teen may be, a rejection letter from the college of choice, is a hard pill to swallow and can lead to some serious angst.
If this happens to your teen, take heart and let them know that they are in extremely good company. Past "rejectees" include, billionaires, university presidents, constitutional scholars, best-selling authors, leaders in business, media and the arts.
A rejection letter isn't the end of the world and could be the beginning of a wonderful future. After all, the name and prestige of a college says nothing about the inherent character and potential of the student being rejected. Rather, it is qualities such as compassion, tenacity, work ethic, enterprise and talent that lead to a fully rounded and contributing member of society.
The rejection letter isn't personal, although it feels very personal. The selection process is complex and isn't just based on test scores, GPA's and admission essays. The students first choice colleges are usually based on reputation, location and family desirability; however parental disappointment shouldn't overshadow the student's ability to adapt and be proud of any college they may be accepted into: (It is important to trust your teen's choice over your own). Adversity isn't always a negative. College isn't a given. It is dependent on the student's work ethic and oftentimes the parent's pockets. Tenacity and gumption are also powerful components for a successful future.
