So I will start. I was rejected by Harvard from the waitlist.
It hurt. It’s a struggle to be excited now. I am thankful for many things, but I feel a little lost and disappointed to the bone.
What worked for you?
So if you are like most kids waitlisted-to-rejected by Harvard, you are likely going to some other highly resourced college. And likely once you really get going there, you will realize it actually has far more resources than you could possibly make use of in four years, so you will be picking among many different possible paths. And there will be a lot more to compete for, lots more opportunities to explore your particular interests, lots more opportunities to distinguish yourself–all this is just the beginning, not the end.
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I’m sorry you didn’t get in. That sucks. People deal with disappointment differently but here is one take: unless you are clinically depressed (hope not!) happiness is a choice. It’s fine to take a moment (a day?) to allow yourself to be sad but then you must choose to move on. Don’t indulge in feeling sorry for yourself. When you start to feel that way force yourself to do something more productive. Volunteer or just do a good deed for someone else. To adapt an old phrase…just say no to wallowing in self pity. You’re smart and resourceful and have so much opportunity ahead of you. Choose to be happy and excited about these opportunities. What’s that you say? It feels “fake”? That’s ok! Fake it 'til you make it. Resilience is a great skill to develop - you can do it! Wherever you land in the fall they are lucky to have you. Best wishes!
Sorry to hear, but you will be totally fine.
I highly recommend reading Stoic philosophy - just in general, but especially when processing something difficult.
Here is an easy entryway:
I have mentioned this before in other threads, but it might deserve to be repeated here.
When I was applying to graduate schools, I was rejected by my top choice (which was an Ivy League school). A few weeks later I got accepted to my second choice. I attended my second choice, and LOVED IT!!
While I was in graduate school I was too busy studying and doing well in my classes to even remember ever having had a different top choice. Years later, looking back, I realize that my second choice was always a much better fit for me. In my case admissions got it right at both schools (the one where I was accepted and also the one where I was rejected).
If you were rejected by Harvard, then most likely you were accepted at other very good schools. Hopefully you will also find that the school where you end up is the right place for you.
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I went through this with both college and law school–not accepted to what I would have said was my top choice, and in retrospect could not have been happier with where I actually went.
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