Have you been turned down for a place at university? Here are some words of encouragement for you!

Unfortunately, we have to tell you …

At times like this, it’s often more than just a plan that falls apart. Perhaps you’d already been imagining what your first day at university would be like. You were probably looking forward to this new chapter in your life. And now it feels as though that dream has been shattered.

If that’s how you’re feeling right now, there’s one thing we’d like to tell you: you’re not alone in this disappointment.

Every year, motivated, qualified people are turned down for a place at university. Not because they aren’t capable enough or aren’t good enough. Often, it’s simply down to a limited number of places or a particularly high number of applications. Sometimes you might be on the waiting list and move up at a later date.

Questions you might be asking yourself now

• What is actually important to me about my chosen degree programme?
• Are there other ways to achieve this goal?
• What can I take away from this situation?
• What might this situation be trying to teach me?

3 tips if you’ve received a rejection letter

• Allow yourself to feel disappointed. It’s completely normal and human – don’t push that feeling aside, but let it be there.
• Stop comparing yourself to others: if you’re constantly looking left and right, you often overlook how far you’ve come yourself. Of course you’re wondering why it worked out for others but not for you. And yet even an entrance exam or interview doesn’t reveal the full extent of your abilities – it’s just a snapshot.
• A ‘no’ is sometimes just a ‘not yet’: perhaps it’ll work out during the next application round or through a different degree programme.

Right now, it’s OK to feel sad. You don’t have to see the situation in a positive light straight away or come up with a new plan immediately. Disappointment is part of the process.

Sometimes it only becomes clear later on that this very detour can open up new opportunities – perhaps a different field of study or valuable work experience. Just take a moment now to catch your breath, and then you can think about what to do next, step by step. In any case, we want to encourage you to stay true to your gut feeling – and perhaps give it another go next year.