We know getting rejected is tough, and an early decision rejection from your dream school can hit especially hard. Pomona acceptance rates are no joke7% overall and 13% for ED. But keep in mind, that doesn mean you were twice as likely to get in during ED, and approx. 1,400 other students also got similar news. Youre far from alone in this, and we want to remind you: not getting into Pomona doesn define your future. Youre still headed for a fantastic school where youll thrive.
If youre feeling the urge to panic, take a deep breath. In this post, well walk you through steps to regain control and set yourself up for success as you move forward.
Step One: Take a Little Break
Yes, were seriousyou need to take a step back and give yourself a break. Here why: if you applied early decision to Pomona, youre probably a high-achiever and a bit of a perfectionist, which likely means youve been pushing yourself hard for months. The intensity of the college application process might have you a little frayed around the edges (and maybe your friends have noticed, too). And now, youre imagining yourself in an entirely different future than the one you dreamed of a few days ago. Chill.
So, instead of spiraling or burning out, take a few days to process and let yourself feel whatever emotions come up. Give your mind a real break, because youll need it at max capacity for the next steps. For now, do something that helps you relaxwhether that treating yourself to some ice cream, punching a pillow, or buying some cheap plates from the thrift store and then smashing them into a bunch of bits. Then, after a day or so, come back refreshed and ready to dive into our next steps.
Step Two: Strategize
The first step is to review your college list. If youre like our clients, youve probably created a balanced list of 8 to 12 schools, covering a healthy mix of safeties, targets, and reaches. In that case, you likely won need to make major changes. Just double-check that the remaining schools align with your goals, and consider which one might be a good fit for ED2.
For those of you who focused only on Pomona or just a few other schools, youll have a bit more work ahead. Youll want to build a list that includes a balanced range of safety, target, and reach schoolsand, most importantly, schools where youd be genuinely excited to attend if accepted. Start by identifying what you loved most about Pomonawas it a specific program or academic focus? Let that be your primary filter so each school you add aligns with your academic interests. Beyond academics, consider factors like campus culture, size, and location, but keep in mind that no school will check every single box. Also, youre kind of in luck since there are a few other schools in the Claremont Colleges that actually might be a better personality fit! If there are absolute dealbreakers, like avoiding large schools or campuses with an intense Greek life presence, prioritize those. Otherwise, keep an open mind and explore a range of options.
Okay, everyone come back now for ED2. We highly recommend applying ED2it a smart move with acceptance rates often similar to those for early decision. Schools value ED2 applications because those binding commitments boost their yield rate, which means they often fill a large portion of their incoming class with early applicants, ED2 included. This doesn mean that all regular decision acceptances is off the table, but were all about maximizing your chances. That why we have all our clients choose ED2 options just in case.
Step Three: Essays
Once your college list is finalizedespecially if youve added a lot of new schoolsit time to tackle those supplemental essays. Our website has detailed guides for many school-specific supplements and even some for the more common questions youll see across applications. But before diving into supplements, there something even more important: your Common App essay.
We hate to say it, but you most likely need to rewrite your Common App essay. Ah! Stop throwing tomatoes at us!! Look, wed wager that your current essay might be on the cliché side. If you wrote about your very inspiring grandma, your biggest achievement, or the hardest challenge youve faced, youre likely telling a story admissions officers have heard thousands of times before, and probably dozens of others on the day they read yours. We believe you probably wrote it beautifully, but our goal is to help you stand out among the crowd.
Youre probably not thrilled about writing a new essay in just two weeks. But trust us, it can be done. Every year, we help students write incredible Common App essays in the two-week window between rejections and RD deadlines.
The toughest part? Brainstorming. The purpose of this essay is to showcase your personality in a way that goes beyond the numbers and achievements already on your application. Think about the qualities that can be easily measuredmaybe a unique quirk, a hobby youre passionate about, a family tradition, or even a fresh perspective you bring to everyday things. We encourage you to approach your brainstorming with storytelling in mind, because if there one thing colleges love in a Common App essay, it a good story. And don feel pressured to write about a grand momentsometimes a simple story, like cooking with your mom, captures personality the best. In fact, those small, personal stories are often the most memorable.
A standout Common App essay tells a story, and every great story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use vivid language to bring your narrative to life, placing the reader right in the heart of your experience and making them feel like theyre living it alongside you.
Step Four: Ask for Help
If youre feeling stuck right nowand we understand, this is an emotionally intense timewere here to help. Every year, we offer our It Going to Be Okay package, designed to support you through these critical next two weeks. This intensive boot camp guides you through every part of the Common App you might need assistance with, from brainstorming to execution. Don hesitate to reach out if you need supportweve got you covered.
Rejected and don know what to do? Reach out to us ASAP.