Support for my seniors as we await decisions

As notifications begin and continue to roll out in the coming weeks, I’d like to share a couple of thoughts with you.

Remember that you have worked hard not only throughout the college application season but throughout your entire high school experience. Despite the challenges of a non-traditional freshman year impacted by remote and hybrid learning, you have been and will continue to be successful in your life. The admissions decisions you receive from colleges will never change that fact.

You may receive a decision you’re not happy with…a deferral or a denial. If that happens, I will share in your disappointment. I’ll help you deal with deferrals. If you were denied, I urge you to not over analyze the situation to try to figure out why you were not admitted. The odds are that it had very little to do with you personally. 

There is no magic formula for how colleges come to their admissions decisions. Each one is trying to create an incoming class that fits their institutional priorities and needs. At very selective colleges, there are so many qualified applicants that colleges must make the very difficult decision of whom to admit. Remind yourself that you’ve submitted your best application and that the decisions are not within your control. 

While that decision will hurt, you will get through it. That certainly isn’t meant to minimize any disappointment. Rather, it is to try to help you keep it all in perspective. I am here for you if you’d like to talk through it.

On the other hand, you may receive the decision you’ve been dreaming about. If that happens, I will share in your excitement! Be proud of your accomplishment. Please also be humble. Some of your classmates may not have received the same exciting news that you did. Keep that in perspective as well.

I am proud of each of you. You have committed many, many hours to this process, and it is an honor to be on this journey with you. We are just getting started! I wish you all the best as you will await these decisions, and I look forward to hearing your news.