So I just got my first rejection letter

[gradstudent84]

All right so just now I got my first rejection letter. I applied to 13 places, and I still have to wait for 12 more, but I am feeling extremely discouraged.

It is out of state (I'm from California) and the fact that I didn't get in is making me feel that I won't get in any of the 12 I applied to. I am probably sounding dramatic but I'm being honest. I have no idea how I am going to be able to survive the next month while my very first letter confirming the status has been negative.

Also, two other schools are contacting people to interview and I haven't gotten anything yet; one school said she'd let me know by this week (and it's already Thursday) so I haven't had any good news so far.

I feel like there is no hope and I feel very discouraged in completing this quarter on a hopeful note. Should I just try to forget about this whole thing and just go about my daily business? I am already thinking the worst case scenario and it really sucks.

Edited February 17, 2011 by gradstudent84

[tolstoy]

I got my first rejection letter too. I know exactly how you feel, but you've applied to a lot of places, and at the end of the day you only need one acceptance.

[Strangefox]

You applied to 13 places so I am sure some of these programs will accept you. Rejections suck, I know that, but they are an inevitable part of the process, I guess.

Cheer up! It's too early to be worried

[DrPepper-olic]

I totally know where you're coming from!

I applied to about 15 schools, most of them top 25, but a couple top 100 programs, too. The only notice I've received so far was from the "safest" of the programs I applied to, and it was a cryptic message telling me I'm on the wait list. I had been feeling rather laissez-faire about where I ended up...until I received that email. To be honest, I'm starting to feel really insecure about how my application will stand up to the others.

I am determined not to let this paranoia overtake my daily life, though checking GradCafe 15x a day doesn't make it easy. In an effort to focus on my daily business, I printed out all the computer code I'm working on so I won't be tempted to check if there has been a new result posted in the last 5 minutes. I was hoping that succeeding at my job would give me some sort of self-satisfaction. I'm on here now, though, so what does that say?

I really do hope that you get the opportunity to interview at your remaining schools. I don't think that my degree program does the interview thing, but I wish they did.

[Vacuum]

my first response was 'waitlisted' but I have to say, I was much happier to have that than a rejection as the first result back to me! I do feel your pain though because last year I also had a rejection as a first response! The good thing is that you applied to quite a few schools and I'm sure you will get in!

KEEP THE HOPE ALIVE!

Edited February 17, 2011 by Vacuum

[Lolita]

I'm in the same boat. I feel like I've just been dumped. Bad.

[FingersCrossedX]

That really sucks. However, keep your spirits up! Look its possible to have any combination of rejections, acceptances and wait lists. Could you be rejected from every school? You could be rejected this one and have offers for funding from the rest. Remember, its often about fit. If you got rejected, maybe you wouldn't have been happy there.

I say go out, get dinner and a drink or two, or three with a friend. You can vent and move on to the next one. Good luck!

[Strangefox]

Which got me thinking...is it possible for all schools to reject me? I sound super pessimistic but seriously..if that happens I don't know what I will do.

You should not think about that right now. Just relax, and think about strong points of your application.

Thinking that you can get rejected by all schools is like thinking that you will get hit by a car tomorrow. All sort of bad things can happen to us but we should not spend our lives imagining them!

Ok, that was not very optimistic

Really, try to find some activity that will help you to take your thoughts off the application process. Start a new hobby. Watch interesting movies. Meet with your friends. Whatever that makes you happy.

And stop worrying!

Edited February 17, 2011 by Strangefox

[aucinema]

Rejections are discouraging, especially when you haven't had an acceptance yet. That said, don't give up hope based on one rejection letter! You still have 12 more opportunities to be accepted, so there's no reason to panic yet. Not to mention, there's so many stories here of people who were rejected from their "safety schools" and then went on to be accepted to their top choices.

I understand how you feel though. I haven't heard anything from any of my schools yet, but I'm afraid of how I'll feel when I get a rejection letter. We put so much stress on being accepted to graduate school and sometimes it's hard to keep things in perspective.

Chin up and get ready for that acceptance letter!

[UFGator]

Don't sweat it. I highly doubt you will go 0 for 12. Pick up a new hobby and don't stress over it.

[Vacuum]

If for some godforsaken reason they don't accept you, try, try, try again. School is becoming more and more competitive, which is unfortunate and some great minds slip through the cracks. All you need is that one person who believes in you, but you have to believe in yourself first! I've been in that spot last year of being rejected. It sucked. I was sad, but got over it and thought 'I'll show them next year'. Grad school applications take a lot of thought and energy, so I give kudos to anyone who goes through the process.

[jergensultrahealing]

Rejections are always hard to take whether they are from potential spouses, life partners, employers, or graduate schools. I try to give myself a time limit during which I can sulk and feel bad about myself (usually somewhere between 36 hours and eight weeks). But after that, I try to flip things around and tell myself that the rejection is just helping my decision-making process become easier -- i.e. "That's one less factor I have to think about!"

Edited February 18, 2011 by jergensultrahealing

[beanbagchairs]

I understand how you are feeling right now. Give enough time for yourself to "mourn". Then, go watch some funny movies/serials (the big bang theory shows always work for me)

You'll be fine.

[gradstudent84]

Thanks everyone.

This morning I received an email for an interview. I was so happy that I told my parents, which then prompted me to tell them about my first rejection. Turns out this interview email was an error, and they sent it to the wrong people, and I actually didn't make the interview.

Wow.

Now things HAVE to look up for me because this is pretty disappointing.

[cranberry]

Thanks everyone.

This morning I received an email for an interview. I was so happy that I told my parents, which then prompted me to tell them about my first rejection. Turns out this interview email was an error, and they sent it to the wrong people, and I actually didn't make the interview.

Wow.

Now things HAVE to look up for me because this is pretty disappointing.

Seriously? That's horrible! Was the email personalized to your name?

[Vacuum]

When there are issues like that during the process from schools (sending wrong info, general confusion about what is required for application, etc) or if the staff is really rude on the phone/in person OR they never respond to emails, I always think it is a red flag. I always wonder 'do I really want to go there if they can't even do this part right?'

It kind of becomes a joke when they require students to stick to such strict guidelines during the applications process, when they themselves make huge errors like described above. Frusterating!

Edited February 18, 2011 by Vacuum

[gradstudent84]

When there are issues like that during the process from schools (sending wrong info, general confusion about what is required for application, etc) or if the staff is really rude on the phone/in person OR they never respond to emails, I always think it is a red flag. I always wonder 'do I really want to go there if they can't even do this part right?'

It kind of becomes a joke when they require students to stick to such strict guidelines during the applications process, when they themselves make huge errors like described above. Frusterating!

I agree. the person I've talked to on the phone was helpful in giving me information, but had an undertone of rudeness and insensitivity. I was angry before but now I'm just extremely disappointed that this admissions office has been so incompetent.

The email wasn't personalized.

I feel pretty dejected but still hoping for the best here.

Edited February 18, 2011 by gradstudent84

[FaithM]

We'll get through this. I applied to five schools and have been rejected by three so far. I think what really sucks is how much time, energy, and money we have to put into these applications. Applying to five schools this year cost me a good $1000, which is what I spent the first time around--with rejections from all seven of the schools to which I applied. After spending the last 3-6 months burying yourself in applications, LORs, SOPs, portfolio/writing samples, etc., getting rejected is enough to suck the air out of your lungs.

Is this your first time applying?

[gradstudent84]

We'll get through this. I applied to five schools and have been rejected by three so far. I think what really sucks is how much time, energy, and money we have to put into these applications. Applying to five schools this year cost me a good $1000, which is what I spent the first time around--with rejections from all seven of the schools to which I applied. After spending the last 3-6 months burying yourself in applications, LORs, SOPs, portfolio/writing samples, etc., getting rejected is enough to suck the air out of your lungs.

Is this your first time applying?

I know what you mean. I invested a lot as well. I hope you receive the good news that you so well deserve. This is my first time applying to this particular program I am interested in. I have applied to graduate schools before, and maybe it was because I was much younger and unaware of the fierce competition of grad schools, but I never had to go through so much pressure before.

[2011fall]

same here...and i applied for 6. Got rejection from the one which i put the most attention.

So what i do now is: Save the grieve now, release and vent the sadness until i had all the results. (sometime i felt it silly that one moment you were crying and freaking out, and the second moment, you got the acceptance!!)

so i just save my feeling now.

and wait.

just wait.

wait only.

oh~~and i was telling myself, the 'quote' for this week is done, will have one result for one week from now on. So i am pretty much calm now. waiting for the next week's 'quote' and hope it will be a good news.

[FaithM]

I know what you mean. I invested a lot as well. I hope you receive the good news that you so well deserve. This is my first time applying to this particular program I am interested in. I have applied to graduate schools before, and maybe it was because I was much younger and unaware of the fierce competition of grad schools, but I never had to go through so much pressure before.

Yeah, I think the pressure is even worse for second-timers because now it's like--if you don't get accepted this time, it's just never going to happen. I just got my fourth rejection and I'm sooo completely devastated, because at this point I have no idea what my next move is. Last time I just decided to crack down on beefing up my vita by getting an MA at a renowned school and publishing publishing publishing. Now I'm stumped.

I hope you get into a great school with a big fat fellowship!