Tayler
Should I follow up with colleges who have rejected me?
I have received rejection letters from a couple of colleges and neither of them said why I was not accepted. I would like to know why I was not chosen, but would they even answer my email? #college #rejection #collegerejection
3 answers
Shamelle West
Shamelle’s Answer
Hi Ken,
Sorry that you have had luck in your college search so far. I worked in post secondary education for almost ten years. I advised students almost everyday that if a school that you are really interested in, does not show interest in you, reach out to an advisor at the school, and ask them to provide you with some feedback. When meeting with this person, ask if they wouldn't mind being a point of contact for you.
Ken Simmons
Ken’s Answer
Following up whenever you have an interview or complete an application is very beneficial; however, the method of follow up makes a very important difference in the outcome. We are becoming too dependent upon the electronic methods of communication, such as the internet and messaging, which only allow for disjointed one way communication. During my many years in Human Resources, I did not consider a person a serious candidate for a position until he/she made a phone call or a personal visit as a follow up. Personal visits and phone calls allow for a complete interpersonal communication which involves dialogue and real time exchange of ideas and information. Making such a follow up within three days of an application or interview is acceptable and encouraged. You stand a better chance of gaining helpful information by making your followups in person or at least over the phone, if a personal visit is not practical. Go for it, you will not doubt gain some valuable information.
Instead of concentrating on your rejection, prepare yourself for success. Apply to your local community college. They are generally more accepting of students than colleges to which you might have applied. Success at a community college will increase your chances of becoming accepted at the same schools later as a transfer student. Attending a community college has advantages: the tuition is less, they offer intern and coop opportunities which would allow you to have practical experience and earn money as you learn, and they have smaller classes and more available study support which would allow you to overcome some things for which other school might have rejected you. Also, many community colleges have special arrangements at specific colleges which give their graduates priority.
Ken Simmons
Here are some good steps to follow to increase you chances of success: (1) take an interest and aptitude test to identify proper career areas based on your interests and personality traits. (2) talk to the director of alumni relations of your local community college to arrange to meet and visit graduates who are working in your career area for which you tested to get inside advice about the career area and how to be successful at the community college. (3) Work hard at the community college to get the best grades possible and develop a networking group of graduates and students in your career area. (4) apply to your colleges of choice as a transfer student after graduating from the community college.
Ken Simmons
Here are some good tips on networking, which will help with your process: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ##
## ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Ken Simmons
Austin L.
Austin’s Answer
Hi Tayler,
Sorry to hear that you have received some rejection letters, its never a good feeling. More and more people are applying to college every year and the admission process is getting more competitive in turn. If you are curious why these colleges rejected you then emailing them will not hurt at all; if they respond it could give you insight for any future college applications that you send out. That withstanding, the colleges either may not respond or could respond with a vague answer that does not really tell you why you got rejected. Colleges tend to be really busy getting things ready for their incoming class so they may not take the time to actually give you a good answer. I hope I am wrong and they actually take the time to go into your file and let you know why you were rejected (I wish all colleges did this, it would be really helpful).
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck choosing which college to go to!!
Best,
Austin