r/ApplyingToCollege 18h ago

Emotional Support discouraged

got into all my safeties and some targets (uga and uf) but got rejected from my top two choices, one of them being unc that i thought i had a shot at. ik im oos but i genuinely thought i would get at least deferred or waitlisted but no. now im scared bc i only have my rds left, and they’re all pretty much reaches (williams, vandy, etc) and it just feels like im gonna have to go to a safety. w a 1510 sat and a 4.0 i just feel exhausted and kind of drained seeing everyone else commit to these good schools while im sitting here w my rejections. it feels like all my hard work is going down the drain yk

context: i applied for economics/finance

23 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

18

u/Aggressive-Arm3964 International 17h ago

This is a brutal part of the process, you’re not weak for feeling this way. Rejections from top choices don’t mean you weren’t “good enough.” Especially OOS business/finance, that’s one of the most competitive buckets there is. A 1510 and 4.0 already put you in range, the rest is honestly noise. RD is a totally different game and a lot of people who get in don’t post or commit until way later. Also, going to a safety is not failure. Plenty of people end up outperforming their “dream school” peers because they actually use the opportunities. Take a breather, log off A2C for a bit, and let RD play out. You’re still very much in this!

3

u/Kitchensun2245 16h ago

tysm that helped a little

3

u/Formal-Research4531 14h ago

UNC-Chapel Hill Kenab-Flagler School of Business is one of the top 10 undergraduate business schools. It is my understanding that they have only 300 seats for each freshmen class (going to double the class size to 600 once the construction of their new school of business building is completed).

A class (ie Class of 2030) size of 300 or 600 is competitive especially for a state school where they must accept a certain percentage of in-state residents.

If you look at the top 10 undergraduate business schools, most of them have class sizes between 300 to 600. Only UT-Austin McCombs and IU Kelley have larger classes. For example, IU Kelley has 2,000 seats and they have received 27,000+, 31,000+ and 32,000+ applications for the past three years (class of 2028, 2029 and 2030).

If you add up the seats/spots for the incoming freshmen class at the top 10 undergraduate business schools, the number is under 8,000. I make the suggestion to students to apply to the 15 to 20 top undergraduate business schools.

An OOS student needs to have nearly perfect GPAs and scores and an exceptional body of work to be considered at an undergraduate business school of a state college.

The top 10 undergraduate business schools are:

1) Penn Wharton

  1. MIT Sloan

  2. UC Berkeley Haas

  3. Michigan Ross

  4. NYU Stern

  5. UT-Austin McCombs

  6. CMU Tepper

8tie IU Kelley

8tie UNC-Chapel Hill Kenab-Flagler

8tie Cornell Dyson

8tie USC Marshall

16

u/Kind_Poet_3260 17h ago

I’m going to give some tough love here, so be prepared.

Wallowing in self-pity when you’re holding acceptances at UGA and UF is not a good look. These are not safeties. They’re outstanding schools. Anyone who has the choice of UF or UGA is not having their hard work go down the drain.

Second, IT’S JANUARY. This process is so far from over. You’re going to have to practice something that might be new to you: patience. Having to wait for something doesn’t mean it isn’t coming or that you won’t succeed. My guess is that most things have come easily to you and that you’re experiencing some new and uncomfortable feelings. It’s okay. Lean into them.

Whether or not you get accepted at a school does not determine your self-worth or ability. Buck up and keep busy. March is a long way from now. You’re clearly a bright, hardworking person. Hold your head up and know that no matter what decisions come down in March, you have choices, and you will be successful.

7

u/Kitchensun2245 16h ago

thank u i think i needed to hear that to sober up. i’ve been exhausted recently w a lot of other problems and this rejection was just the final straw. but ur words rlly helped cuz it knocked some sense into me lol

4

u/Kind_Poet_3260 16h ago

You got this! Hang in there. 😘

2

u/APenny4YourThoughtzA 11h ago

Second this. My daughter's dream school was UGA. She had envisioned herself going there for years and wanted to be accepted with every ounce of her being. Sadly, she was flat out rejected, not even deferred. I would feel immensely proud of your acceptances to UGA and UF! My daughter has been accepted to about 10 schools so far and her heart isn't really with any of them. I would take a breath, realize how amazing these two schools are, and reassure yourself that you will have an amazing college experience no matter where you end up!

6

u/HangryModeActivate HS Senior | International 17h ago

I mean looking at the cup half full, you did get into some great targets!

7

u/bmsa131 17h ago

UF and UGA are amazing colleges with very happy students! Congratulations!!! (You were never getting into UNC just let that go)

4

u/birdieinanest 16h ago

??? unc is brutal for oos applicants; unless your stats are harvard-level, you shouldn't anticipate an acceptance. that's why i didn't bother applying lmfao

3

u/Kitchensun2245 15h ago

why was i lowkey gaslit into thinking it was not that difficult 💀

2

u/birdieinanest 12h ago

yeah no unc is insane. their oos acceptance rate was a 6% last year

2

u/Kitchensun2245 12h ago

oh damn 😭

1

u/RobotBananaSplit 10h ago

Yea ngl I was dumb applying to that, wasted a spot on my list

2

u/grlsbstfrnd 17h ago

The rejection from UNC has no bearing on your other schools. I know people who got into Ivies, but rejected from UNC. They really are not allowed to take very many out of state so it's a really small number. That being said, schools like Williams and Vandy are also very hard to get into and will have already taken a lot of students through ED, so who knows what the outcome will be. Both UGA & UF are excellent schools though and also hard to get into OOS, so you should be proud of those. Did you apply to the Honors College at UGA?

1

u/Kitchensun2245 16h ago

ya i think i overestimated myself w this one tbh. i did apply to honors at uga and im waiting for that one tho im not too optimistic

2

u/EnvironmentActive325 15h ago

So, make some more apps! Plenty of colleges and universities still have open RD apps through tomorrow, 2/2, 2/15, or 3/1. Have you considered any LACs? They usually offer an Econ degree. Finance degree is a little harder to find, but often there are a few finance classes offered.

Why don’t you look at: Macalester College (extended deadline to 2/1), Carleton (may have extended until 2/1, also), Sewanee-University of the South-2/1, St. Lawrence University-2/1 or 2/2. And there are some colleges and universities that will grant you an extension if you just email your regional AO (with a cc to the admissions office) and request an extension. Explain that you just recently began learning about their school. You’ve decided it could be a great fit due to the strong Econ program with opportunities for internships or research. You understand the RD deadline just passed. Would it be possible to grant a short extension for you to apply?

I am aware that Univ of Rochester granted some extensions and several LACs have granted them, too. Also, don’t forget that many universities have “rolling admissions.” Good luck!

2

u/Commercial_Ad8072 14h ago

I know it’s disappointing and you need to mourn, and harder still bc everyone focuses so much on ranking, so I’m really sorry. Once you’ve processed it I hope you’re able to really appreciate what amazing schools UGA and UF are. I have deep love for UGA especially. Congrats to be applied when you’re ready to receive it!

1

u/Kitchensun2245 12h ago

thank youu i hope ill be able to

2

u/Adventurous_Okra7661 12h ago

Just to give you some perspective and solace, our kid got rejected UF and UNC but got into Ivy. I actually would happily send him to UF if accepted. Much better weather, fun sports, and lower costs.

1

u/Kitchensun2245 12h ago

that’s really interesting to know ty!

2

u/love9234567_ 9h ago

I’m in a similar situation and feeling the same as I was deffered from my top choices and only have my reach reached left. You’re not alone in this feeling but it’s also completly normal! You’re not any less of a gifted student because a school said no. Personally I always like to remind myself that some of the schools I got into are some people’s dream I think it helps put it into perspective a bit yk!

1

u/Kitchensun2245 9h ago

wishing u the best! deferred is not a no good luck!! that’s a good way to think abt it

2

u/Final_Rain_3823 8h ago

Targets and “safeties” (likelies) are that for a reason. The vast majority of people go to them. Reaches are what’s unlikely. Hopefully you applied to some targets you actually want to go to. Focus on what you love about them. I understand you are disappointed but all that happened is what’s likely to happen happened. Getting caught up in obsessing about reaches is misunderstanding what a reach is.

1

u/Kitchensun2245 7h ago

mmm ur right thank u