Responding to Being Denied

Road Map for Graduate Study: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students 
by Dr. Donald C. Martin 
Published July 2009

After helping thousands of students through the application maze at a number of prestigious schools, most recently Teachers College at Columbia University, Dr. Donald Martin shares great insider advice for those exploring the idea of going to graduate school. His new book, Road Map For Graduate Study, is structured to help you determine if you should attend graduate school, what schools may be right for you, and how best to navigate through the maze of the application process. 

This is never easy. After all of the time and work you have put in to your application, it can feel like a real slap in the face. If you are extremely upset, do not react by phone or in writing right away. Give it a few days. As you reflect, consider the following:

1. Accept the decision. At this point you cannot change it.
2. Don’t take it personally. Remember, under most circumstances the admissions committee is faced with a very difficult task: choosing a limited enrollment number from among a very large applicant pool. These individuals are good people, who are doing their best in a very difficult situation. Believe me, they are not personally against you in any way.
3. Write a thank you note to the person who signed your notification letter. If you believe you can honestly do so, send a letter thanking the admissions director for taking the time to review your application. Perhaps that is all you will decide to do.
4. If you believe something was missed or overlooked, ask about it. Kindly ask if your most recent test score was received or if a recent transcript is in your file. You may want to verify that all of your recommendation letters were received. If you sent a cover letter and it contained some very important information, check to be sure it was included when your application was read. On occasion something may have been overlooked. If so, most admissions committees will provide another complete evaluation. If they are unwilling to do so, or worse yet, not even willing to take another look at that part of your application, perhaps you are getting additional information about whether this is really the place for you.
5. Sometimes admissions committees make mistakes. On rare occasions, a decision to admit is accidentally entered as a denial. Please know that this rarely happens. All admissions offices have several “checks” in place to ensure that the proper decision is communicated to the applicant. But it would not hurt to check. Do so kindly, not in an accusatory way.
6. Request feedback and honor what you are told. Some admissions personnel will offer feedback for denied applicants in person, over the phone or in writing. If they do, ask for this feedback. Do not argue when you receive the feedback. Make sure you understand what was communicated, and be sure to thank the person for his/her time.
7. Ask if additional information from you could result in a second look. Perhaps you have already found this out. If not, it never hurts to ask.
8. Consider re-applying and ask about that process.
9. Remember: this is a temporary disappointment, not a final blow. You WILL succeed, even though the path right now may not be as you planned.
10. This is a practice opportunity for patience and professionalism. If you decide to respond in some way to being denied, please remember this: If you want to send a positive message to the admissions committee, it is now. A mature, thoughtful attitude makes a huge and positive impression, believe me!

Dr. Donald C. Martin is an expert in the fields of enrollment management, student affairs and higher education administration. From 1980 to 2008 he managed divisions including admissions, financial aid, student development, registration/advising, and career, disabled and international services. 

 Get recruited by grad schools. Click here.