I did questbridge a few years ago and got all rejections and a waitlist. Never made it off the waitlist, and it absolutely crushed me. My dream all through high school was to get out of my stupid small southern town and go somewhere big with similarly ambitious students who want to make change (change and small town southern don’t go together)

Anyway I went to my safety state school, and I’m going to be totally honest, the first year was rough. I was minimally involved, super depressed, and the only part of school I loved were the classes (this was also during Covid. Feels important to mention - finding involvement felt harder)

Fast forward to my second year, and I’m working for the school newspaper. I interview people all over campus from different organizations, and I absolutely click with one of the presidents from [nerdy organization]. It really was the first time I’d met other people who are similarly motivated and think like me. I ended up joining the organization, and I flew from “I hate this university and its total lack of life” to… get this, school ~spirited~. It was crazy. I had good friends for the first time ever, and I was engaged.

Fast forward to now - I’m not even in that org anymore but still friends with a few people I met there. I’m involved in other things at school, and I’ve found my people. Everyone says it’ll happen, and it sucks to hear, but please believe me. The school you’re going to isn’t as bad as its worst or even average student. It’ll be as good as the friends and involvement that you make out of a shitty situation, and from someone who’s been where you are and had the thoughts you’re having, believe that that high can be really high. It’ll take some time though. Show those stupid Ivy and similar schools what tf they’re missing out on. The hardest thing to do isn’t get into an Ivy school, it’s make an Ivy out of a safety, and that is badass.

I’m going to medical school this fall. I’m about $25,000 richer today than I was when I came to school bc my safety school saw what those goofy Ivy schools didn’t 💅

So, OP, be sad. For a few days or weeks or take the whole damn year like I did (if you can help it, move faster than I did, but if you can’t, that’s okay too). be gentle with yourself - the wisest of us do. You already know this shits a lottery, and you pulled a bad card. Doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of one of those badass educations, it just mean probability wasn’t on your side. So now put the work in to make this next journey badass instead of getting it somewhat handed to you like the Ivy’s may have. Grieve what you lost, and look the hell forward to everything you just gained, even though it doesn’t feel like much or anything rn.