Every year the college application process takes over the lives of seniors across the country.

The end goal of all of those forms, essays, and recommendation letters is finding an acceptance letter in the mail from the school of choice.

The letter that everyone waits for, the one for their number one school, can be the source of plenty of stress.

Finding that acceptance letter in the mail is a great feeling, but not everyone gets that.

Getting a rejection from a top choice school can feel like the end of the world. Sure, everyone applies to more than just their number one school, but it can feel as if nothing will compare to getting into that dream school.

Rejection is not uncommon. Some schools, like Stanford, have an acceptance rate as low as 5%.

In recent years students have been applying to more schools than ever, opening up a wide range of options when it comes to making the final decision on where to go.

While getting a rejection letter from your dream school may be devastating, there are several options when it comes to the next step.

Look into other schools

What once may have been a second or third choice is now something to take more seriously.

Schools that may have seemed to have fallen lower than that number one may be have more to offer than what they seem to.

Research the programs at these schools and email staff in the department of interest with questions.

By giving these schools more attention you are opening up the door to a wide range of new possibilities for your future.

It is about a goal, not a name

Remember that going to college is not about the name of the school or the recognition you think comes with it.

Going to college is about an education that will help you get the career that you wish to have.

While it is nice to go to a well recognized school, it is in your best interest to look at schools that provide good programs for you.

What might be good for your friends and family may not be good for you. It is important to reach for your goals and not those of others.

Do not be stuck on the one school you did not get into because it is the one your friends are going to or because your family members went there. There are plenty of schools with amazing programs to fit your specific path.

It is okay to get angry, but do not attack the school

There is no way to not be even slightly upset when receiving a rejection from any school. It is okay to feel hurt, it is a rejection. Treat it like a breakup, there is an acceptable period of time where it is okay to be upset, but at a certain point enough is enough.

Coming out of a rejection takes strength and dedication, but it is about realizing that there are other options and that being rejected does not mean instant failure.

Rejection hurts, but what can hurt more is bashing the school on social media sites like twitter or facebook.

While it might feel good to release your frustrations on the twittersphere, it can lead to negative repercussions in the future.

Schools can often see your social media profiles and it reflects your attitude. This is especially detrimental to you if you plan to reapply to this school next year.

It is okay to post something about how you feel, but completely bashing the school for rejecting you can lead to another rejection or something far worse in the future.

Try try again

Reapplying is a viable option for you if you think that this one school really is the only one for you.

   There is nothing wrong with doing a year at another school, doing a year of community college, or even taking a year off.

   Getting your grades up at another school or taking time off can be beneficial when reapplying.

   One rejection does not mean that the school will never take you; persistence is the key to perseverance.

   Applying to college is a lesson in heartbreak, acceptance, and ultimate triumph.

   “Honestly, the school that was your number one may not even be all you thought it was. There are hundreds of colleges out there and not getting into one shouldn’t make you feel any worse about yourself.” Steven Stavnem, Div. 571, said. “College is what you make it and there are plenty of colleges that would and are perfect fits for you. Don’t let anything discourage you.”

   At the end of the day, regardless of where you go, the rewards can be great.