You knew exactly which school you wanted to attend. You applied early and got denied or deferred. What are you supposed to do now?

We hear admission officers all the time say they simply have too many qualified applicants, and even those who are denied would probably do well at the college. If you were deferred, have faith that you still may have a chance in the Regular Decision round. This is not the time to change everything about your college application process. It’s time to get back on track and try to earn admission at some other schools you’re really excited about.

Look over your college list again. Is it balanced? Generally, when students apply to a school Early Decision, it’s more of a reach. Now that you’ve been denied or deferred, make sure you are applying to enough appropriate targets and safeties, but there is no need to add a dozen more safety or reach schools. This only creates more stress because you have to write more supplements and send more applications. The key is balance and quality. Find a few schools that you feel great about and stick with those. Do some research on colleges that you previously overlooked. This country has plenty of excellent schools where you can thrive. You have to be open-minded and learn about these schools before you make judgments on them.

Trust your application. Remember that getting denied doesn’t mean you had a bad application. Each school has its own institutional priorities, so there is no need to take the decisions personally.

If you were deferred, read the school’s letter carefully and follow the student portal instructions they give. Some schools will simply ask you to be patient for the next round of decisions, while others welcome additional information. If you are asked, update the school with any significant achievements you’ve accrued since submitting your application, your improved grades in your challenging classes, and a current letter from a teacher explaining your recent progress. You might also write a short letter to the admission office reaffirming your interest in the school and why you would be a good fit there.

If you need a day or two to process the decision letter and cool down, we encourage you to take it. Then get moving once you’re ready. The most successful people in the world don’t get accepted to everything they try, but they are great at adapting when things don’t go their way. They find other ways to accomplish their goals or they discover new paths that they previously ignored. You can do the same! Have a positive and optimistic mindset. We are here to help you take the next steps, and we need you to take the lead.