Making Plan B Work For You

If at first you don’t succeed, adjust your plan and apply again!

You’ve just received bad news from your first-choice university. Now what?

Faced with rejection, you might be tempted to wait a year and apply again to the same school, with the same credentials on your application. Albert Einstein famously defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” When you don’t get the acceptance letter you were hoping for, take stock of your options and make a new plan.

Nicole Poole, Manager of Domestic Recruitment at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, says, “There is no reason to give up on getting a university education if your initial applications are unsuccessful. At KPU we pride ourselves on offering a pathway for every learner.” Take the time to find out what your options are.

Reach out to someone in Admissions at your school of choice. You may learn that your application was unsuccessful because you did poorly in a particular course; in that case, find out if the school offers upgrading courses for students who don’t meet the admission requirements. Keep an eye on the university’s Events Calendar for opportunities to meet with faculty and advisors who can give you tips on enhancing your application.

While you may have your heart set on a particular school, it’s important to avoid “tunnel vision”. Research other schools that offer a similar program with less restrictive entrance requirements. After a few semesters of study, you may find that your Plan B school is a perfect fit!

Once you’ve formulated your Plan B, make the most of your time while you wait for the next application cycle. Perhaps you’ll take some courses to raise your GPA, or gain work experience in a field closely related to your intended program of study.

Don’t be discouraged by rejection; learn from it, and make Plan B work for you!