It is that time of the year. Applications are in, and you are waiting tirelessly for your dream college’s acceptance letter. For some, your dreams may come true but for others, not so much. If you are in the circle of candidates who have been rejected from your dream college, I am here to help you recuperate. Here are my top 5 tips for dealing with college rejection.

1. Do not overanalyze (take it personally).

Humans tend to overanalyze choices and jump to conclusions. Overanalyzing takes many forms, such as overthinking your outcome, taking it personally, and developing assumptions. Spending too much time trying to determine what went wrong and determining what went right is not beneficial for you in the end. Whenever you self-sabotage yourself, you will only be hindered. Do not fall into the trap of believing that you are not smart enough. In addition to the hundreds, perhaps thousands of applications that were submitted to the college, many other factors go into the acceptance process. When striving for perfection, understand that everything turns out how it was originally envisioned. It is imperative to realize that there is nothing wrong with you. You have a purpose, and you are valuable. However, the university you chose was not the right fit for you, which is okay. 

2. It is okay to feel.

Receiving a rejection letter can be devastating. It is a genuine feeling of disappointment and can cause a decrease in self-confidence. Please allow yourself a moment to feel. When you are hurt, sometimes it seems better to hide your feelings from others and neglect one’s emotions when it is ultimately bad for your health. According to Time Magazine, humans neglect their emotions with “alcohol,” “and drug” use, and obsessive “screentime.” There are many cases in which humans resort to survival tactics to cope. This can cause psychological damage, which can exacerbate depression and anxiety in the future.

In accordance with Time Magazine, these factors can be linked to serious health issues, like “heart disease, intestinal problems, headaches, insomnia, etc.,” which can have a detrimental effect on your health. The one thing it highlights is the practice of “self-compassion.” Do not be afraid to cry, be angry, frustrated, disappointed, lost, doubtful, and so on. You are owed a moment to feel. However, do not allow these feelings to fester into long-term depression. It is imperative to take a moment, breathe, and then proceed to the next step in your journey. If you are unsure of whether you can overcome this hurdle, here are some resources may help with finding someone who can help guide you in the right direction. Here are a few to list.

• Better Help
• Talk Space
• Faithful Counseling 
• Teen Counseling

3. Self-Care:

I encourage you to allow grace to be a part of your life once you have shed your tears and taken the time for yourself. Taking care of oneself is one of the most important aspects of getting back on track. It is important to understand that self-care can take many forms. We all need a little boost from time to time, whether that’s going back to the gym, burning off some steam, practicing meditation, fasting, praying, reading, or even taking a well-needed day off. Find things that you can enjoy and that will generate happiness and peace. Take some steps to get your mind back on track by doing something you enjoy.

As a matter of fact, some of the best laughs I have ever had have been with friends. Take a trip with your friends, or if it makes your group trips aren’t your thing, go solo. Paint something, even if you’re not Picasso. Dance your heart out. Just allow yourself to breathe again. If you are on a spiritual journey, prayer and fasting may be your route. Fasting disciplines your mind, body, and soul and allows you to truly focus on your inner being and desires and focus solely on what aligns with your purpose in life. Reading books will help you with your perspective and how you think. Sometimes another person’s words can evoke and inspire you to keep going. Whatever you decide, allow time to heal. Here is a list of books that may help your journey:

• Four Agreements
• The Road Back To You 
• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
• Winning the War in Your Mind
• You Are A Badass
• Heal Your Body

4. Celebrate your wins. 

Instead of worrying about rejection, celebrate your acceptance of the other institutions. To those who may not have received any acceptance letters, it is not the end of the world, even though it may feel like it right now. No one person is one-dimensional. Tap into the other gifts that lie dormant. If you are focused on a particular career, then find another avenue. Finally, never count yourself out, no matter your age. Your journey does not end here. The rejections may be a blessing in disguise. Do your very best, and fail forward. When one door closes, another will present itself. It is important to tap into the things that make you happy. Honestly, you never know where life will take you. You could be the next President! Seriously, Barak Obama received a rejection letter from his dream college, Swarthmore College! Heart Broken, but only temporarily deterred. Life had different plans for him, and the same applies to you. 

5. You are not alone.

Just because you received a rejection letter from the school of your dreams does not mean that you will not become successful. It is not the school that determines your success but rather your dedication and willingness to work hard to achieve your goals. Many successful people in the world bypassed the schooling route and have created a sustainable and profitable life and income.

There are trade schools, boot camps, certificate programs, community colleges, and resources that can help you accomplish your goal. Depending on what one’s objective is, there are many paths that one can take in order to achieve it. It is essential to recognize that your ideal path may not be the one you are following now. No, that does not mean that you should give up on your dream. There is nothing wrong with returning to the drawing board, crafting your skillset, and trying again or finding another way to succeed. No matter what you do, don’t give up on yourself, period.

Celebrities Rejected by Their Dream College.