JLV College CounselingThink before reacting to a college rejection
Rejection hurts. No matter what anyone says, being rejected from a college will hurt. Whether the college is your dream school or the college you called your safety school, it will hurt. Everyone deals with rejection differently. Some will be sad but will bounce back quickly. Others will be sad for a little longer. Some students might react quickly, without thinking. While it is okay and natural to be hurt, reacting without thinking could actually make the situation worse.
Every year students who were not accepted to colleges send hateful emails to college admissions officers. Many others turn to social media and the internet to voice their disappointment. Some even turn to an “old” technology and pick up the phone to call the admissions office. Before sending that email, making that phone call or posting something online, students should consider these things:
- An angry email or phone call will not help your case. A phone call or email sent in anger will only confirm the admissions office’s decision that it was best not to admit the student.
- Hateful speech will probably lead to a discussion with your school counselor. Some admissions officers will notify your school counselor of an angry email or phone call. After being notified about this behavior, most school counselor will have a conversation with the student. The discussion will probably include reasons why this type of reaction is wrong and unprofessional.
- Police may get involved. If the admissions officer or college feel threatened at all, they may notify the police. Even if a student did not mean the words they wrote or said, that does not matter. What matters is how the information was received. If there are threats, even if they were only said in anger, police can take this very seriously.
- Other colleges might find out. Many colleges watch social media. If they see a student sharing disparaging remarks about another college, they could rescind their acceptance. If they haven’t sent decisions yet, this could likely change the decision they made about the student’s application. Even if colleges are not paying attention to social media, they could still find out. College admissions officers have friends and colleagues at other colleges. These friendships happen because of the time they spend together on the road at college fairs and professional development events. They may give their friends a “heads-up” about negative and unprofessional actions a student makes.
Again, being rejected from a college is hard. No one will deny this. However, before making a rash decision, think about your actions. Don’t send that hateful email. Don’t post that hateful message online. Being denied from a college is not the end of the world. The decision was not personal – for many highly selective colleges, they cannot accept all of the qualified students who applied. Instead of getting angry, celebrate the acceptance letters you received from other colleges. Explore your other options, including other admissions offers, community college, or taking a gap year and reapplying.
If being denied is something that is weighing on your mind, it is okay to talk about it. However, students should not go into the conversations with anger. Take some time to cool off and then ask questions. School counselors are great people to turn to with questions. They may have some insight or advice on how to handle the decision. Many admissions officers will also answer questions when students act professionally. Sometimes students will hear about the many qualified students who applied and the admissions team had to make tough decisions. Other times the admissions officer might be able to shed more light on the situation. Sometimes admissions officers can even help students devise a plan to reapply in the future by working on certain aspects of their application or academic profile.
Reacting fast without thinking after being denied from a college is easy. However, before sending off an email, phone call or post online, students should make sure they are thinking clearly. A negative interaction between a student and a college could have a negative impact. It could burn the bridge if a student wanted to reapply in the future. It could also have an impact on other college decisions. Instead, take time to consider your reaction and move towards handling the situation professionally and with maturity.
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8 Tips for Easing Pre-May 1 Anxiety and Making Your Final College Choice
Stress by Firesam licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
As we head towards May 1, there is sure to be a lot of things on your mind. Here are 8 tips I’ve shared over at College Raptor for easing your anxiety and making your final college choice.
Read the full article at the College Raptor blog.
Scholarship Saturday – March 21, 2015
The deadlines for the scholarships that were on this list have passed. To see scholarships that are still accepting applications, visit more recent Scholarship Saturday posts.
Scholarship Saturday – Mar. 14, 2015
Current Scholarships Available Here
There are thousands of scholarships out there. Some are large scholarships that are well publicized, while others are lesser known. My goal is to share some lesser-known scholarships with my readers every Saturday.
Don’t wait. Apply for these great scholarships today! And, if you missed the last Scholarship Saturday, check it out. There are scholarships there that are still open! Lastly, check out my lists of scholarships with March and April deadlines. Only brief information about each scholarship is listed. Therefore, you are encouraged to visit the scholarship websites to get further details about eligibility and requirements.
Here are your scholarships for Saturday, March 14, 2015.
CAN Thrive Thriving Care Givers Scholarship
Sponsor: CAN Thrive
Amount: Up to $1,500
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is for students who are applying to or attending a Nursing, LPN, or CAN program.
CaptainU $2,000 Student-Athlete Scholarship
Sponsor: CaptainU
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to student athletes who are currently enrolled in high school or junior college and plan to attend a four-year university.
Cognizant Making the Future Scholarship
Sponsor: Cognizant
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students eligible to enroll (graduating high school seniors) or currently enrolled students at a two or four-year accredited college or university ad plan on pursing a career in a STEM field.
Creative Patriot Art Awards
Sponsor: Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Applicant must be in grades 9-12. Applicant must submit an original piece of art that expresses patriotism to the local Ladies Auxiliary Scholarships Chairman.
Crystal Green Memorial Scholarship
Sponsor: Blood Assurance
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors planning to enter an accredited two or four-year college or university. Students do not need to be blood donors, but donors will be given special consideration. Applicant must write a detailed marketing plan for a new blood drive promotion.
disABLEDperson, Inc. National Scholarship Competition
Sponsor: disABLEDperson, Inc.
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students with disabilities who are enrolled in a two or four-year college or university in the United States. Student must submit an essay on the topic of the Social Security Disability Income Program.
Dr. Arnita Young Boswell Scholarship
Sponsor: National Hook-Up of Black Women (NHBW)
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Applicant must be an African-American student at an accredited college or university who is involved in school and community activities. Scholarship is open to female and male students.
Footwear Warriors Scholarships
Sponsor: Two Ten Footwear Foundation
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to veterans currently employed, or returning to work in the footwear industry after their tour of duty.
Future Post-Secondary Students Scholarship
Sponsor: American Culinary Federation
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students accepted to an accredited, post-secondary college, with a major in either culinary or pastry arts, or be an ACF registered apprentice.
Galvanize the Future: An Edgar K. Schutz Memorial Scholarship
Sponsor: American Galvanizers Association (AGA)
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to undergraduate or graduate students of any age who are enrolled at an accredited college or university in North American who are studying architecture, civil engineering, structural engineering, construction management, material science, or other related field.
Gamers Helping Gamers Scholarship
Sponsor: Gamers Helping Gamers
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students who have an interest in Magic: The Gathering trading card game.
Germans from Russia Heritage Society Essay Contest
Sponsor: Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS) Youth Committee
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Contest is open to students attending public, private, parochial, or home schools, and to students attending accredited universities. Student must submit an essay on a topic related to German Russian history, heritage or culture. Student does not need to be ethnic German-Russian to enter contest.
Hearthstone Housing Foundation Academic Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Hearthstone Housing Foundation
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students between the ages of 16-25 years of age who reside at a Hearthstone Housing Foundation property or in a county where a Hearthstone property is located (specific location details available on website) and demonstrate financial need, or come from a low-income household.
James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund
Sponsor: Teamsters
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to sons, daughters, and financial dependents of Teamster members who are graduating high school seniors. Applicant must be in the top 15 percent of their high school class and planning to attend an accredited four-year college or university.
Jerry Fuchs “Making a Difference” Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Minority Athletes Networking Etc., Inc.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students with a B or C grade point average or have high SAT scores but a low GPA. Applicant must be an athlete and/or students looking to go into a technical/medical area and have a single parent or come from an at risk family.
MassMutual Scholars
Sponsor: MassMutual Financial Group
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Program is open to students of all majors who will be entering their sophomore, junior, senior, or fifth-year senior year in pursuit of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
Naqvi Scholarship
Sponsor: Naqvi Injury Law
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and graduates from the state of Nevada who are or will be seeking a law oriented degree.
National Federation of the Blind Scholarship
Sponsor: National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Amount: Up to $12,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Applicant must be legally blind in both eyes and reside in the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
National WWII Museum Essay Contest
Sponsor: The National World War II Museum
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Contest is open to middle school and high school students in the United States, U.S. territories, and military bases. Contestant must submit an essay answering the following questions: “How do you define a hero?”
No Bull Scholarship
Sponsor: Do Something
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: According to a U.S. Department of Education report, almost one in four students reported being bullied at school during the school year in 2011. Students must sign up to learn ways to combat bullying with their friends by providing their cell phone number. Student will be entered into a scholarship drawing for signing up.
Princess Grace Foundation-USA – Theater Scholarship
Sponsor: Princess Grace Foundation-USA
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is for students in their last year of professional training at a non-profit school located in the United States. Applicant must submit an online application, resume, personal statement and work samples. Student must be nominated by a school department chair/dean or company artistic director.
Princess Grace Foundation-USA – Playwriting Scholarships
Sponsor: Princess Grace Foundation-USA
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is for students in their last year of professional training at a non-profit school located in the United States. Applicant must submit an online application, resume, personal statement and work samples. Student must be nominated by a school department chair/dean or company artistic director.
Rev. Charlie E. & Cinderella S. Taylor Sr. Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship
Sponsor: Reverend Charles E. and Cinderella S. Taylor Sr. Foundation
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who are active in church, school and community organizations. Applicant must write an essay entitled, “How I will use my education to bless others.”
Shower Songs Scholarship
Sponsor: Do Something
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Applicant must create a five-minute playlist to bring awareness that by reducing showers to five minutes, the average person could save an average of 1,500 gallons of water per year. Applicant must take a screenshot of their favorite playlist and share the songs with friends.
Souper Drive Scholarship
Sponsor: Do Something
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Student must run a soup drive and deliver it to their local Meals on Wheels location. Applicant must submit a picture as proof.
Spence Reese Scholarship
Sponsor: Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to male students in their senior year of high school planning to pursue higher education in medicine, engineering, law, or political science. Applicant does not need to be a San Diego resident or a BGC member to apply for the scholarship. However, finalist may be required to attend a personal interview in San Diego, California.
Student Avatar Design Contest
Sponsor: SmithMicro Software
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12. Student must create an avatar for Spring’s Visual Voicemail service.
Superpower Scholarship
Sponsor: ScholarshipExperts.com
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2021) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. In a short written response, student must explain which superhero or villain they would want to changes places with for a day and why.
Techlaw, LLP Scholarship – link no longer available now that deadline has passed
Sponsor: TechLaw, LLP
Amount: $500
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students who will be attending an accredited four-year college or university or law school in the United States in the following academic year. Student must submit a short essay on a given topic related to copyright protection, as well as a short response to why the student feels they are an outstanding person who should receive the scholarship.
The Meaning of Family $1,000 Scholarship – link no longer available now that deadline has passed
Sponsor: RCKTSHP
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students who are 16 years of age or older and is a Canadian resident or international students studying in Canada. Applicant must submit a short essay about what family means to them.
The Murray Wise Associates Foundation Scholarship
Sponsor: Murray Wise Associates LLC
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who have been accepted for enrollment at an accredited college, university, or community college in a course of study related to agriculture or agribusiness. Students already enrolled in such institutions and courses of study may also apply.
The Savage Paul Revere Society’s “What Does It Mean To Be An American” Essay Contest
Sponsor: The Savage Paul Revere Society
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students 17 years of age or older who have been accepted to a two or four-year accredited institution within the United States. Applicant must submit an essay based on the topic: “What does it mean to be an American?”
Undergraduate Studies Scholarship for Students of Armenian origin
Sponsor: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students 25 years of age or younger who are of Armenian origin and enrolled or accepted in a higher education institution.
US Premium Garcinia Cambogia Scholarship
Sponsor: US Premium Garcinia Cambogia
Amount: $500
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Applicant must be currently residing in the United States and enrolled full-time in high school or college. Applicant must submit an essay of 500 words or more on a given topic related to obesity.
USPC Scholarships
Sponsor: United States Pony Clubs, Inc.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 31, 2015
Description: Applicant must be an active Pony Club member who is currently enrolled in (or been accepted to) an institution of higher education. Multiple scholarships opportunities available.
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College visit: open house or individual visit?
When it comes to the college search, visiting colleges is necessary to get a real feel for the campus. Many students can only visit college campuses once, especially if the campus is far away from their home. This leaves students questioning what option is best for them: open houses for prospective students or individual visits. Open houses are typically big events for prospective students that happen once or twice a year. Individual visits, on the other hand, can happen almost any other time when it is convenient for the student. Each option is a great way to visit a college campus and comes with advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is up to the student to determine what is the best option for them when visiting colleges.
Open houses will feel like the college is “rolling out the red carpet” for prospective students. The campus and everyone associated with the college will be at their very best. It is the day for the college to persuade prospective students to choose them. Open houses will look a little different depending on the college, but they typically will include similar features. Prospective students can expect to take a campus tour and have opportunities to hear from professors, staff, and current students. There might also be information sessions about campus resources, student activities, and specific academic programs. Open houses will be a great showcase of the college and students will learn a lot about the institution.
Here are some things to consider when thinking about attending an open house for prospective students on a college campus:
- The campus will be well manicured. The lawn will be freshly mowed and the gardens will look fresh and clean. The physical campus will look amazing.
- Many colleges will make sure prospective students will have a place to park their cars while on campus.
- Most of the people on campus will be very welcoming and available to answer questions. This includes professors and staff who can answer questions from prospective students, such as admissions counselors, financial aid officers, and academic advisors.
- Current students will probably participate in the events. However, the students selected to speak at the event will probably have been hand-selected by the people in charge, and possibly prepped on how to answer certain questions. The students who usually participate in events like these are campus leaders and students who love the college. Current students who are quiet or dislike the college will probably not be involved in the event.
- The food will be great on the day of an open house. The menu for the day will probably be selected to show off the best options or student favorites.
- There will be a lot of prospective students on campus, making it a great opportunity to meet future classmates. This is especially helpful for students considering colleges where they may not know anyone. Connections made at the prospective student events could turn into future friends and roommates.
- A lot of information will be packed into the day. The day was carefully designed, and sometimes scripted, to ensure prospective students learn and see most everything they need to know and want to see.
Individual visits are opportunities for prospective students to visit college campuses on days that are convenient for them. These visits will typically include a brief information session from the Admissions Office and then a campus tour. Many colleges also allow students to add on other features if the student is interested, such as sitting in on a class, meeting with a coach, or spending the night in the residence hall. While the Admissions Office will do their best to show off the best of the college campus, some things will be out of their control during the visits. Here are some things to consider about individual visits:
- College campuses do not close during the year. Therefore, construction, painting or lawn care might be happening while visiting.
- Parking may be an issue. Many colleges have specific parking spots for visitors, but if those are taken, prospective students will have to search for an open spot. On many college campuses, there are more students and staff then there are parking spots. Parking is an issue on many college campuses.
- The professors or people prospective students need to talk to may be unavailable. Visiting on a regular school day means that professors are teaching classes and attending to other duties. Therefore, they may be unavailable to meet with prospective students.
- There will be no special meals for prospective students. If prospective students eat on campus they will get to eat the regular dining hall or food court options.
- Students will be able to sit in on real classes, allowing them to see what the academic atmosphere is like at the college.
- Outside of the information session and the campus tour, the rest of the visit will not be scripted. The student will get to blend in on campus and just be another student.
Open houses and individual visits will have a different feel and offer different things. Open houses will give prospective students all access to everything they want and need while they are on campus. However, it is scripted and designed to show off the best aspects of the campus. Individual visits, on the other hand, give students a real look at the campus. This also means students might see the blemishes on the college campus, as well as not have access to people and places they may want to see. Open houses are large and allow shy students to stay quiet and blend in with the crowd. Individual visits, however, vary in size. Some colleges may see 20 students visiting in a day and other colleges might have one visitor a day. These smaller visits are a great opportunity to get one-on-one time with an admissions officer to discuss admissions questions, but may be uncomfortable for someone who is shy.
College visits are a must when researching colleges. However, how students choose to visit colleges is up to them. Open houses and individual visits have their own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, students must decide what is the most important to them: an all access showing or a real day as a student on the college campus. Either option is great and will allow the student to get a feel for the campus.
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