Receiving an Early Action rejection from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is understandably early-shaking. This is not the way things were supposed to go. You knew MIT is exceptionally hard to get into — but you expected a deferral, at least. The big question in this moment is: what comes next? 

MIT, or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is widely recognized as one of the best universities in the world for studying STEM. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT is in an academic, research, and technology hub that offers students opportunities and that attracts an exceptional caliber of professors. Resources like the MIT Media Lab incubate innovation, while the on-campus culture encourages exploration, growth, and discovery within and beyond STEM subjects. There are about 12,000 students with 4,500 undergraduates. The acceptance rate is 4.5%. 

Getting deferred from MIT stings – no way around it. You aimed for the stars, spent weeks (maybe months) putting your application together, hit submit… and now you’re in limbo. It’s disappointing. It’s confusing. And yes, it’s deeply frustrating. But a deferral doesn’t mean it’s over. MIT didn’t close the door, and you still have a few things in your control. So take a breath. Eat a snack. Let yourself feel bummed for a minute. And then, remember this: you’re still in the game.