Ian Nordland
Zephyrus: Where are you going to college next year, and what are you majoring in?
I.N.: I’m going to the University of Notre Dame, and I’m majoring in Biology with a minor in Economics.
Z.: What was/is your dream college?
I.N.: Dartmouth College.
Z.: Where did you get rejected from?
I.N.: I was rejected from Dartmouth College, University of Virginia, and University of Michigan.
Z.: Where were you when you found out you were rejected?
I.N.: I was sitting in the parking lot of City Hall, just in case the police needed to come find me.
Z.: If you had to describe the college you got rejected from in one word, what would it be?
I.N.: [Expletive]. Because they didn’t want someone that’s pretty perfect in most ways.
Z.: What would you say to the admissions office if you had a conversation with them?
I.N.: I just think we would talk about why they made the biggest mistake of their lives, and why they don’t get to see me at their campus next fall.
Z.: What advice would you give to incoming seniors?
I.N.: Just prepare for rejection. It’s gonna happen.

Summer Wang
Zephyrus: Where are you going to college next year and what are you majoring in?
S.W.: I’m going to University College London and I’m studying English Literature.
Z.: What was/is your dream college?
S.W.: Mine switched a lot. At the beginning, it was Cambridge.
Z.: Where did you get rejected from?
S.W.: I got rejected from all the Ivies and the University of Michigan.
Z.: Do you have any funny stories from now having gone through the application/admissions process?
S.W.: I don’t check my email, so I got off the waitlist for three schools, and I didn’t even know until yesterday. They emailed me in April.
Z.: How did you cope with rejection?
S.W.: I didn’t really care, which I feel like is different from a lot of other people who have gotten rejected this year, because this year was especially hard; even in our school, it was hard for a lot of people that I would have expected to get into their schools.
Z.: If you had to describe the college you got rejected from in one word, what would it be?
S.W.: Racist.
Z.: What would you say to the admissions office if you had a conversation with them?
S.W.: I’d be like, “your loss.”
Z.: What advice would you give to incoming seniors?
S.W.: Focus on yourself. I know there’s a lot of other people, like from your school or on the internet, that might make you sad or even motivated… so look for a school that’s right for you and don’t let other people’s dream schools be your dream school.

Jack O’Brien
Zephyrus: Where are you going to college next year and what are you majoring in?
J.O.: I’m going to Georgetown and I’m studying Government.
Z.: What was/is your dream college?
J.O.: My dream college was Georgetown. I applied Restricted Early Action.
Z.: How many schools did you apply to?
J.O.: 14.
Z.: Where did you get rejected from?
J.O.: I got rejected from UVA, Princeton, Yale, and then I was on the waitlist for Vanderbilt.
Z.: Where were you when you found out you were rejected?
J.O.: I remember my Georgetown deferral letter. It was December the 19th, and first off it came out a week early. And then I was looking at something, and it was like, “Georgetown released it.” So I was like, “Oh [expletive],” and then I opened it, and then [it said I was deferred].
Z.: If you had to describe the college you got rejected from in one word, what would it be?
J.O.: Losers.
Z.: What advice would you give to incoming seniors?
J.O.: Start as early as you can. I added nine colleges on the last day you could submit the transcript release form. So I was really late to that, and I was turning in writing applications two days before the deadline too. It ruined my winter break. It was so bad.