In less than two weeks, D-Day looms for seniors who have applied early decision. On or about December 15, colleges will send out their acceptance letters to these early applicants who have been waiting anxiously to hear about their fate since November. Will the email or letter read, “Congratulations and welcome to the Class of 2016,” or will it read, “We regret to inform you…” My hands have turned cold with dread and nervousness just thinking about it.
By this time, some seniors have already heard from colleges, especially if they applied to schools with rolling admissions. A few weeks ago, my daughter told me that on her way to class, she saw a girl jumping up and down and shrieking in the hallway, “I’m going to college!” Some talented athletes have also closed the deal on their recruitment: a top cross-country runner is going to Duke University, and a gifted tennis player is heading to Williams College. As word spreads about who has gotten in and to where, my daughter admitted that she couldn’t help but feel pinpricks of envy, all of which only seems to add to the heightened frenzy and stress of the season.
So she waits with impatience and trepidation for December 15 to arrive, wanting it to come quickly and not wanting it to come quickly. I talked to her about what may happen that day.
“If it doesn’t work out, you know, if you don’t get in…”
I broke off, searching for the right balance of optimism and realism. Her eyes locked on mine as she waited for me to continue. I tried again.
“We all think the college that you applied to is a good fit and we’re hopeful that you can get in. But you never know these days. You don’t know who else is applying and what they’re like. If they receive too many applications from Chinese-American girls who have lived in Ireland, play the flute and want to study Chinese…” I paused. This was not going the way I envisioned. I didn’t want to make her sound like everyone else.
The word “rejection” sticks in my throat and I have a hard time spitting it out. “If it doesn’t work out,” I said, my words rushing out, “then it was not the right college for you for reasons that we’re not going to know now. We have to trust and have faith that in God’s providence, you will end up at the right college.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’ve thought about that too, about what it will feel like if I don’t get in. I’ll probably be really disappointed and sad.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, “we’ll all feel disappointed. But you’ll have to find a way to push through it and send out your other applications.”
She nodded again and huffed out a breath filled with longing, “I really hope I get in.”
Me too.