Getting denied admission to college happens, but don’t let it discourage you. Learn how to deal with college rejection and get your plans back on track. 

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<div><p>College rejection isn&rsquo;t fun, but it does happen. Whether you get rejected from every college or just your dream school, it can be hard to cope. Below are seven tips on how to deal with college rejection. Follow some of these and dealing with rejection from college will be a lot more manageable.</p>
<h3>1. Start with Your Feelings</h3>
<p>It&rsquo;s okay to feel hurt or disappointed if you get rejected from all colleges or your dream school. Processing those feelings with a parent, friend or teacher will help you work through this temporary hiccup. Let yourself feel sad for a few days but then use those feelings as motivation moving forward.</p>
<h3>2. Understand that College Rejection Doesn&rsquo;t Mean You&rsquo;re Not Good Enough</h3>
<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t get into college, but why was I rejected?&rdquo; If you&rsquo;re facing college rejection, those thoughts have probably crossed your mind. That&rsquo;s totally normal. It helps to remember that colleges all use different criteria when deciding which students to accept. In a lot of cases, things are just out of your control. This is especially true for highly competitive schools like the Ivy Leagues.</p>
<p>At those schools, more qualified students apply than there are admissions spots. Admissions professionals must resort to other methods when deciding who to accept aside from high SAT scores and an impressive GPA. One of their main goals is to create a well-rounded class full of students with different backgrounds, interests, and majors. You can&rsquo;t possibly know what they&rsquo;re looking for when you apply, so getting denied admission doesn&rsquo;t mean you aren&rsquo;t good enough or smart enough to go there</p>
<h3>3. Talk to Your Parents</h3>
<p><img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/asset.plexuss.com/news/images/rejected-from-every-college.jpg" alt="Rejected from Every College" width="400" height="250" /></p></br>
<p>If your parents took an active role in your college search, you should talk with them about your college rejection letter(s). Parents often feel invested in their child&rsquo;s success and may brag or talk about it with friends or family members. Set boundaries about who they&rsquo;re allowed to tell (if anyone). This will help you to avoid feelings of hurt or embarrassment down the road. Share your intentions with them about next steps and seek out advice too.</p>
<h3>4. Review Your Application Materials with Your Guidance Counselor</h3>
<p>Moving on with your college search is perhaps the best way to deal with rejection. If you think your application may have hindered your chances, review your application materials with a guidance counselor, parent, or mentor before applying to other schools. They can suggest changes to your essay and make recommendations for next steps or other colleges to apply to. They may even have their own tips on how to deal with college rejection.</p>
<h3>5. Seek Out a Rolling Admissions College</h3>
<p>Depending on how late in the game you receive college rejection letters, you may have already missed application deadlines. That&rsquo;s okay. There are several <a href="https://plexuss.com/news/article/what-is-rolling-admission">colleges that offer rolling admission</a>. This admissions policy keeps the application window open until every spot in the class is filled. For some schools, this means that you have right up until the week or so before classes to receive an acceptance letter.</p>
<h3>6. Consider Community College and Transferring</h3>
<p>Nearly all community colleges have an open admissions policy. Everyone that applies and meets basic criteria like having a GED or high school diploma can attend. There isn&rsquo;t a competitive application process or any college rejection letters. Community colleges make a great primary or back-up plan.</p>
<p>Plus, there are many academic and financial <a href="https://plexuss.com/news/article/benefits-of-going-to-community-college-then-transferring">benefits of attending community college and then transferring</a>. You can improve your college transcripts and build your resume before applying to schools for the Spring or Fall semester of the next year. This can give you an even better chance at getting into your dream school. Plus, community college is a lot cheaper, especially if you&rsquo;re able to live at home. You may even qualify for special scholarships when it does come time to <a href="https://plexuss.com/news/article/transferring-from-community-college-university">transfer to a four-year school</a>.</p>
<h3>7. Consider Taking a Gap Year</h3>
<p>If you get rejected from all colleges, you don&rsquo;t have to apply to more schools right away. Taking a break&mdash;or gap&mdash;from school can help you refocus and decide what you want to do with your life. <a href="https://plexuss.com/news/article/taking-a-gap-year-after-high-school">Gap years</a> are highly fulfilling if used correctly and give you a chance to do things you never could during high school. Some students travel the world on their own or through a planned gap year trip abroad. Others stay home and work to save up money or volunteer to gain experience.</p>
<p>If you struggled academically in high school, a gap year also gives you time to prepare for college. You could take one or two classes online for credit, hone your reading skills, or take entry-level MOOCs (<a href="https://plexuss.com/news/article/benefits-of-moocs">Massive Open Online Courses</a>) to brush up on math and writing. Writing about your gap year in your future college application can make you stand out and improve your chances at getting accepted.</p>
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