Being A Good Friend

[britboi04]

So my roommate and I have been super close since high school, and we were each going through the graduate school application process this year. He for clincal psychology, which is so radically different a process than what I had to do. Whereas I had to pick particular programs I was interested in, he really had to pick schools based on professors doing research in the areas he wanted to work in--this severely limited his options.

After spending tons of money on apps and flying to interviews, he received the first rejection letter yesterday for his top choice :\

The rejection wasn't outright because of his application though--it was because the instructor had decided to take up a position with another university!

All month the professor had kept in contact with my roomie about how he was sorry he wasn't able to let him know his decision yet but that there were 'circumstances he couldn't specifically talk about' that might make it so he couldn't take on any students. Of course, during this already stressful time, this was just even more stressful to hear. I can't believe that the professor had the audacity to invite students for interviews when there was even the possibility of him moving to a new university. Why not at least let the students save money on airfare and do skype/phone interviews instead?

I feel so badly as it was my roomie's top choice, and out of 8 schools applied to, only 3 interviewed him. Grad school is already tough to apply and get into, but clinical psych programs seem even worse.

Do any of you have any tips for helping those who have received rejection letters and don't know what they'll do now? Have any of you been in that boat? What would you have wanted to hear from your friends?

I might be experiencing that this next week as I see two of my schools sent out their letters and someone posted that they received their acceptance yesterday and I've got nothing yet. At least I have a backup school/plan. What a traumatizing time!

[martizzle]

personally, i think being there is what most people need. talking isnt neccessary most of the time, just the shared knowledge that you will be there, patient and whenever he/she is willing to let it out, you will be there.

it varies though, some pple may need a shoulder to literally cry on, others (like me), simply need to know someone is there (somewhere), im not really into too much talkin because i feel ther person trying to consle me is 'trying to help himself feel better' or something, anyway, just be there...whatever that means to him/her