Rejection season reaches students
For seniors, spring is a time of anxiously awaiting college admissions letters.
The season typically brings a mixture of disappointment and joy, as students find out if the letters coming in the mail hold acceptances or rejections.
Acceptances can feel like validation for years of hard work, and also raise morale for students who achieved their goals of getting into their top schools.
Lexi Posey, a senior, received her acceptance letter from University of Michigan in December.
“It felt amazing getting into my top school. I wasn't expecting it because I didn't want to get my hopes up, but when I saw that I got in I felt like all my hard work up to this point had paid off. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Posey.
However, the acceptance season can also create tension on campus, as many students tend to compare themselves to their friends and peers, and one may feel as if their self worth is based on an acceptance or rejection.
“It's hard to look at a rejection letter and not take it personally. It feels like all of your life is put into a few paragraphs and the letter you get back determines your worth. Even though we know that's not true, you do begin to question your worth when the letters come back, regardless of logical reasoning,” said senior Millan Kanaya.
Kanaya applied early decision to Northwestern, as did her friend and classmate, Alyssa Fine. However, the two girls managed to avoid the potential strain that applying to the same school can put on a relationship.
Kanaya said, “We both really wanted each other to succeed, and that's why it didn't cause any tension between us.”
Unfortunately, both Kanaya and Fine received rejection letters from their dream school.
Getting rejected from a top choice can have just as negative an effect on students as acceptances do positive, and there is annual tensions among seniors during admissions season.
“It's awful that someone else's victory almost feels like your loss of an acceptance, but that feeling is definitely prominent,” said Kanaya.
Seniors tend to compare their acceptances and denials, and lots of judgement can arise as gossip spreads about “who got in where.”
It’s easy for one to become jealous when they are rejected from a competitive school, and another student gets in. There are often rumors about students getting in just because of a sport or because they are a legacy at the school.
However, some students don’t need to worry about getting into a four year university.
Daniel Zorb, a senior, is taking a different path entirely, and choosing to attend community college, rather than applying to a four-year university. Zorb wants to be a firefighter, and has chosen to attend CSM because of their excellent program.
“I’ll be able to transfer from CSM to a four year after to get even more education on something related to firefighting, which will really increase my chances of getting a job,” said Zorb.
Because he is attending junior college, Zorb did not have to deal with the stress of applications, or the anxiety of admission letters.
Regardless of fall plans, college admissions season brings “senioritis,” a term coined to describe the lack of motivation common among second semester seniors.
Once acceptance letters start filtering in, it’s easy for seniors to slack off, feeling as though they have already accomplished the ultimate goal of high school.
Contrary to popular belief, senior year grades do matter, and an acceptance letter can always be rescinded.
According to the Huffington Post, “Colleges will require you to submit a final grade report, and poor grades senior year can keep you out of your dream college.”
Posey said, “My motivation to get good grades has plummeted, but I’m still studying and working just as hard to keep my grades up.”
Regardless of whether one is dealing with rejection, celebrating acceptances, or planning to attend a junior college, spring is a time of excitement for seniors, as their high school experience draws to a close.
The season typically brings a mixture of disappointment and joy, as students find out if the letters coming in the mail hold acceptances or rejections.
Acceptances can feel like validation for years of hard work, and also raise morale for students who achieved their goals of getting into their top schools.
Lexi Posey, a senior, received her acceptance letter from University of Michigan in December.
“It felt amazing getting into my top school. I wasn't expecting it because I didn't want to get my hopes up, but when I saw that I got in I felt like all my hard work up to this point had paid off. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Posey.
However, the acceptance season can also create tension on campus, as many students tend to compare themselves to their friends and peers, and one may feel as if their self worth is based on an acceptance or rejection.
“It's hard to look at a rejection letter and not take it personally. It feels like all of your life is put into a few paragraphs and the letter you get back determines your worth. Even though we know that's not true, you do begin to question your worth when the letters come back, regardless of logical reasoning,” said senior Millan Kanaya.
Kanaya applied early decision to Northwestern, as did her friend and classmate, Alyssa Fine. However, the two girls managed to avoid the potential strain that applying to the same school can put on a relationship.
Kanaya said, “We both really wanted each other to succeed, and that's why it didn't cause any tension between us.”
Unfortunately, both Kanaya and Fine received rejection letters from their dream school.
Getting rejected from a top choice can have just as negative an effect on students as acceptances do positive, and there is annual tensions among seniors during admissions season.
“It's awful that someone else's victory almost feels like your loss of an acceptance, but that feeling is definitely prominent,” said Kanaya.
Seniors tend to compare their acceptances and denials, and lots of judgement can arise as gossip spreads about “who got in where.”
It’s easy for one to become jealous when they are rejected from a competitive school, and another student gets in. There are often rumors about students getting in just because of a sport or because they are a legacy at the school.
However, some students don’t need to worry about getting into a four year university.
Daniel Zorb, a senior, is taking a different path entirely, and choosing to attend community college, rather than applying to a four-year university. Zorb wants to be a firefighter, and has chosen to attend CSM because of their excellent program.
“I’ll be able to transfer from CSM to a four year after to get even more education on something related to firefighting, which will really increase my chances of getting a job,” said Zorb.
Because he is attending junior college, Zorb did not have to deal with the stress of applications, or the anxiety of admission letters.
Regardless of fall plans, college admissions season brings “senioritis,” a term coined to describe the lack of motivation common among second semester seniors.
Once acceptance letters start filtering in, it’s easy for seniors to slack off, feeling as though they have already accomplished the ultimate goal of high school.
Contrary to popular belief, senior year grades do matter, and an acceptance letter can always be rescinded.
According to the Huffington Post, “Colleges will require you to submit a final grade report, and poor grades senior year can keep you out of your dream college.”
Posey said, “My motivation to get good grades has plummeted, but I’m still studying and working just as hard to keep my grades up.”
Regardless of whether one is dealing with rejection, celebrating acceptances, or planning to attend a junior college, spring is a time of excitement for seniors, as their high school experience draws to a close.