Why Being Rejected From Your First-Choice School Isn’t the End of the World

It’s that time of year again, when those letterhead acceptance letters start coming in the mail and high school seniors are waiting by the mailbox for their college future to begin.

According to an annual survey by researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles, about 70 percent of students applying to college will be accepted by their first-choice school. This number hasn’t fluctuated more than a couple of percentage points in the last few years of the study.

But what if you don’t get accepted to your first-choice school? Time to pack it up and go home? Not at all. Don’t be disappointed. In fact, half of those students accepted to their first-choice schools don’t end up there for various reasons, cost being first among them.

Here are several reasons why heading to a school that wasn’t your top pick might be an even better way to go.

Savings. Big Savings.

The biggest reason why students don’t end up going to their first-choice school is tuition cost. Schools further down your list might offer a quality education but at a greatly reduced price. You’ve heard the term “you’re paying for the brand name”? It happens with schools too. Lesser-known schools are generally lower in tuition price, but with faculty who have the same — or sometimes better — credentials. If your second- or third-choice schools are still pricey, you might consider taking on a job that can help you pay for at least part of your tuition, like working from home as a tutor with SolutionInn, or applying for scholarships.

Smaller classroom size means more one-on-one with professors.

Consider going further down your list to a school with a smaller student body, or regulations on class sizes. At your first-choice school, probably a major university, it’s possible you’ll be in several classes your first few semesters in gigantic lecture halls with 500 students or more. Your professor won’t even know you’re there. At a smaller college, or one that regulates the size of core classes, you’ll know your professors by name and they’ll know you. You won’t be redirected to a TA to answer your questions. More than likely, the professor will welcome you to their own office hours if you need help.

You always have the option to transfer.

Even if you didn’t get into your first-choice school the first time around, that doesn’t mean their doors are closed to you forever. Consider going to a local community college for your initial core classes. You’ll save a ton of money and will be able to prove your credentials to your first-choice school for the first few years of college before applying again. Keep your GPA up, build relationships with well-respected professors for recommendation letters, and join clubs and organizations that show your leadership. In a few semesters’ time, it’s possible your first-choice school will be an option again.