In the movie “Don’t Look Up”, the astronomer who discovers the “killer comet” is a PhD student at Michigan State. When she and the head of the department finally get in to see the President to share their findings, they are told that “no offense, but we need our team of ‘Ivy scientists’, plus the ‘brightest minds’ from MIT and Caltech to confirm.” Of course, all of them corroborate the findings of the student from the “lesser college”, right down to the exact detail.
The movie is rich with commentary and satire on our society but, not surprisingly, this scene, above all, delighted me to no end. Because it was about how our PhD candidate used her skills and talents to apply the knowledge she gained at Michigan State that led to having a comet named after her. It wasn’t simply by attending MIT or Caltech or Harvard.
This message can’t be repeated often enough during the entire college application process. And it’s especially important to keep in mind as seniors receive their admissions decisions.
If you applied early action or early decision and got denied, take the time you need to process through the outcome. Think about “why” the college was on your list. Re-read your “why this college” essays. Re-read ALL your essays. As you read them, think about “why” you wrote what you did. And then use that to ask yourself “how” you can accomplish those goals, take those classes, join those activities at the other colleges you were admitted to.
If you applied early action or early decision and got deferred - CONGRATULATIONS! Yes, you heard me correctly. It means that the college probably got a LOT of applications from qualified students and you’re one of them. It means that the college wants to take another look at you within the pool of regular decision applications. It also may mean that the college wants to make SURE you’re interested. Colleges are literally RANKED and EVALUATED based on yield, which in short means, how many students say “yes” if admitted.
If the college remains one of your top choices, here are a few things you can do:
1. Follow the directions in the portal and/or letter you received to reconfirm that you are still interested. Often, the first thing you need to do is just check a box to let them know. Do that right away
2. Read the deferral letter to see if the college has specific instructions on how to respond. If they do, follow those to the letter
3. If not, send a short update email to the admissions rep of the college that includes:
a. Reconfirming that the college is one of your top choices
b. Provide an update on specific classes related to your major that you did well in 1st semester
c. Write a brief sentence or two about any new accomplishments that have occurred since your original submission. Make SURE these are specific and new.
d. Ask if there is anything they’d like to see or anything you can do that would bolster your candidacy
e. End the letter by thanking them for taking time to read this. That you know they are very busy and that the college is, was, and remains your first choice and would definitely attend if admitted. (ONLY say this if it is true).
Most important, remember that it begins and ends with YOU, the student. YOU have the skills, qualities and characteristics that created your experience in high school and no matter what college you choose to attend, that same foundation will support you to accomplish whatever you choose. Yes, even discovering the next comet!