Tried yet denied

It’s that time of year when seniors deal with college rejections

Every day at 2 p.m. a ritual happens in the neighborhoods of Hopkinton. Seniors run to their mailboxes in the hopes of finding a large envelope from their dream school. However, not every senior is so lucky when they receive the news. The all-too-familiar phrases and professional wording of denial letters are ingrained in the minds of this year’s graduating class.

With 90 percent of the graduating class applying to colleges, according to Naviance, acceptance decisions are coming in daily. The Cappex website said that with more seniors from across the country applying to colleges, the process continually becomes more competitive each year.

Connecting with a college on more than an application basis is popular for students. Many prospects participate in interviews, tours, and contacting their admissions counselor on a regular basis.

Everyone planning on attending college must make a decision on what school they choose to attend by May 1, according to The Common Application, these choices being slimmed down and controlled with each denial.  

The students rejected would most likely read similar words to these: “Admission to the University is very competitive, with the number of qualified applicants greatly exceeding the spaces available each year. I regret that as a result of the competition, we are unable to offer you admission at this time. “

Hopkinton High School is full of resources for helping find the right college and having all the correct materials to complete the process beginning to end. Guidance counselor Pat O’Brien is in charge of helping 55 seniors each year. O’Brien is in charge of helping students with their recommendation letters, updating Naviance and sending the right material to chosen colleges.

Another common resource for seniors is online accounts that can match them up with schools that fit their profile, providing data on their personal chances of getting into a specific school. Cappex, Niche, and Naviance are currently trending amongst this year’s class.

When all these tactics fall through and the numbers, grades and extracurricular activities don’t match up with certain colleges criteria, students are faced with rejections.

Was all this work on the common application wasted? Do students feel rejected on a personal level?

“I didn’t feel offended not getting in because it was such a prestigious program,” Natalie Shambo said.

Caroline Goodwin, who was yet to be denied from any of her schools, said:  “I wouldn’t feel offended, more self-deprecated.”

Students also prepare for future denials by applying to numerous schools as backups. Goodwin and Shambo applied to nine and seven colleges respectively. But many students have not yet heard back from the universities that they applied to.

With the increasing competition and standards–with higher test scores, more essays, and more applications–denials will continuously become more prevalent.

As the large majority of the graduating class continues their secondary education, teachers and guidance counselors are eager to see the choices students mad on schools.

“My favorite part of the process is it is exciting to find out the school kids get into, a reach school is pretty impressive, or if they end up getting a scholarship,” O’Brien said.