We understand that receiving a rejection from your dream school, like NYU, in the Early Decision round can be disheartening. You’ve invested countless hours making yourself a great candidate and had a clear vision of your future there. First and foremost, we want to emphasize that this outcome is not a reflection of your worth or your potential. College admissions have become exceptionally competitive! And NYU’s acceptance rate, according to U.S. News & World Report, is only about 12%.
We have some guidance on what you should do and how should move forward if you’ve been rejected from NYU Early Decision.
First Thing’s First
Look, you’ve dedicated a serious, substantial effort to the NYU application and to every aspect of your academic journey over the past few years: countless tests, AP courses, clubs, homework…you’ve done it all. So, before moving forward, it’s really important to take some time for self-care. Allow yourself some time (but not too much) to process your emotions. Recharge for a few days. Relax in your comfiest pajamas. Sit on the couch and scroll mindlessly next to your bff. Indulge in tons of snacks. Whatever helps you recoup.
Your List
Now that you’ve had a bit of time to recharge, it’s time to regroup. Don’t be afraid. You’re not starting from scratch. All of your past efforts are valuable. You’re just going to do some fine-tuning and re-evaluating. You might come up with a slightly different approach to some things you’ve already done.
Start out by revisiting your college list. Examine every school on it and take note of the average ranges of acceptance rates for test scores and GPAs. See where you fall for each and write it down. Next, evaluate how well-balanced your list is. You should have a good mix of reaches, targets, and safeties.
The rest depends on your comfort level. You don’t need to eliminate similarly competitive schools simply because you didn’t make it to NYU Early Decision. If you feel confident, you might proceed with your current list. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a bit more reassurance, consider adding another safety and target school or getting rid of one of your reaches. We don’t recommend a complete overhaul at all, whatsoever. If you did your research before compiling your list and familiarized yourself with each school, trust the groundwork you already did and just review your choices.
The Common App
Next, take a look at your Common App. We like for our students to revise and improve their essay. We work with clients to craft outstanding essays that showcase their personalities – who they are beyond a piece of paper. Think about it this way: admissions officers spend days and days sifting through stacks of essays and applications. So, you need to focus on standing out.
We recommend telling a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end that highlights a few of your personality traits. This should be a simple story. Not something overly-existential or too big. It should also be fun, charming, and whenever possible, funny! Put yourself in the admissions counselor’s shoes and consider what kinds of essays would pull you in after reading hundreds and hundreds before it. Aim to come across as a real-life, well-rounded person.
Phone a Friend
Getting an Early Decision rejection can be a lot. It’s completely natural to feel a little lost or unsure about what to do next.
Many students find it helpful to seek guidance from a college consultant. We offer a specialized “It’s Going to Be Okay” package for students who didn’t get good news in the Early Decision round. It’s an intensive, two-week boot camp to help students create a robust plan and get their footing back following a rejection.
College admissions have gotten a lot harder than they once were. Like, sometimes nearly impossible. If you face an Early Decision rejection, don’t despair. There are steps you can take to make sure you’re still a great candidate for an amazing school.
Need help with a college essay? Call us. We’re experts at helping students craft standout essays.