Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews

YCBK 598: What To Say to a Student In Despair Because They Didn't Get In

Dec 22, 2025
Carter Delloro, Co-Director of College Counseling at the Marymount School of New York, dives into the controversial nature of early decision policies and their implications for equity in college admissions. He argues for a shift away from these practices, discussing their institutional pressures and potential consequences. The conversation shifts to supporting students dealing with admission disappointments, with advice on normalizing rejection and reframing choices through campus visits. Practical tactics for emotional support and balanced applications are also highlighted.
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INSIGHT

Early Rounds Serve Few But Stress Many

  • Early decision benefits a tiny slice of students and heavily advantages particular colleges.
  • Around 1% of seniors get early acceptance, so the system creates outsized anxiety for most.
ADVICE

Manage Your Reaction Privately

  • Hide intense parental reactions; take a private walk or pause so the child doesn't feel like they've disappointed you.
  • Keep your own upset private to avoid adding guilt to their disappointment.
ANECDOTE

Peer Rejection Reframed A Student's Recovery

  • Mark describes a family whose student was deferred and later relieved when they learned most peers were also rejected.
  • That shared experience helped the student stop blaming themselves and recover.
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