Alternate Plans if Not Accepted to College
What to Do if You Didn't Get Into College
Jul 12, 2009 Elizabeth Humphreys
College admissions are getting more and more competitive as the number of students graduating from high school increases. This means that even very good candidates might not get into their college of choice, or might not get into college at all. It is every student’s nightmare that he won’t get in anywhere, and highly qualified students who would have been accepted at many colleges are now being rejected even by their so-called "safety schools". When students find themselves having been rejected from every college they applied to, what then?
Having a plan B will both help ease the stress of the entire application process and will give a sense of perspective. In order to compete in today’s economy, a college degree is very important; but not getting accepted initially does not mean that the chances of financial success are ruined. Here are some ideas for what rejected students can do in the months after they’ve graduated high school which might make them more successful when they re-apply.
The Gap Year
It is common practice in Great Britain to differ entry to university for a year while the student who just graduated high school takes time to travel, make money and gain life experience. There are numerous gap year programs which are readily accessible over the internet and which offer a variety of experiences.
A well organized gap year program will offer a safe, valuable experience in many locations both exotic and close to home. Many of these programs offer charity work, which is both morally fulfilling and impressive on a resume.
Employment Before College
Getting and holding down a job both provides a source of income and shows a level of maturity and commitment that few other activities are able to. Any student just graduated from high school would be lucky to find a job that was anything but minimum wage, but even a low paid job can earn someone a bit of extra cash while perhaps also earning a letter of recommendation.
Internships Between High School and College
Internships, whether paid or unpaid, are great ways to gain experience, meet people in a particular industry, and make contacts for the future. Summer internships have become more popular, and thus more competitive. For someone taking an entire year off, an internship which was not in the summer may be a better choice, as it may be easier to obtain and it would last for longer. These are, however, harder to find simply because they are not the norm.
Take a Year Off to do Something Different
Everyone has a passion, and often this passion is something that they don’t think is practical to do in the long term. A year off is a great opportunity to do the things that are difficult to do when wrapped up in studies and work. Part of the year can be spent playing polo in Argentina, working on a campaign, volunteering at a zoo and handling wild animals, or anything else, and the other part can be spent paying for it if necessary.
Study During the Free Time
A year without the pressure of performing in tests and exams can be used to study areas that are a student’s weaker points. Skills such as languages are valuable throughout life whether or not those skills are demonstrated by a test score.
While most students would much prefer to get accepted at a college and start that September, this is not always possible – and more importantly it is not the end of the world if things don’t go to plan. A year out from college should be seen as an opportunity, and with the right mindset it can be a year well spent.
The Word No One Wants to See On Their Application
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