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Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Determining If a College Rejected You

What are the typical signs or notifications that indicate a college has rejected your application? I'm anxious about waiting for decisions and wondering how schools usually communicate their decisions if they're negative.

a year ago

When a college makes its admission decisions, generally you'll be notified through one of a few different methods and the way they indicate a rejection can vary.

1. Email: Many colleges notify students via email that a decision has been made. Within the email, it may be stated outright if you've been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected, or the details might be left vague, prompting you to log into your application portal to view the decision.

2. Application Portal: Most colleges have an application portal where you submitted your application. This is often the place where decisions are posted. Logging in, you might see a big banner or notification indicating your status. If you've been rejected, it will likely say something like "We regret to inform you..." or other clear communication that you were not admitted.

3. Physical Mail: Some colleges might send their decisions through regular mail, though this is becoming rarer. In these cases, often a small envelope indicates a rejection, while a larger packet implies acceptance (as it will include details about next steps, financial aid, etc).

If your decision is not positive, remember, it's okay to feel disappointed, but it doesn't reflect your worth. Sometimes, a rejection could lead you down a different path that's better suited for you in the long run. Colleges make decisions based on a variety of factors, and unfortunately, the process can be highly competitive at many schools. Good luck and remember, there's more than one perfect college for every student.

a year ago

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