My daughter did not get into her dream school either. She got deferred and then rejected. It was, of course, really disappointing for her.
She also got accepted into some really great schools. The one she ended up choosing wasn’t her first choice of the 7 that accepted her, but it was the one that is most affordable for our family. She will get a great education there, she will make contacts that will serve her well, and she will make the most of the opportunity she has been given. It’s a nice bonus that she will have very little debt when she graduates.
She does have moments of sadness (many of them!) that she isn’t going to the popular state school that a lot of her friends are going to, nor is she headed to the big name school that accepted her with a small merit award. She’s looking ahead to a great education at a fine school.
Best wishes to you as you embark on your next journey!