Rejection wall reinstated for college letters
posted March 16, 2009
by June Afshar of Campanile
Palo Alto High School's Associated Student Body is bringing back the "rejection wall" for spring of 2009. To be located on the inside windows of the English Resource Center, the wall is a place where senior students can post their rejection and deferment letters from universities available for the entire student body to view.
This tradition has been around Paly for years but was dropped back in 2006. Senior class representative Jenna Lose initiated bringing back the rejection wall this year as her semester project for ASB. Lose is working alongside seniors Juliet Carnoy, ASB's treasurer, and Dana Friedlander, ASB's cheer representative.
"I remember there was a rejection wall my freshman year, and then it basically disappeared after that so I thought it'd be fun to start up the tradition again," Lose said.
To preserve privacy, the letters that are posted will be anonymous, unless the student wishes to disclose their name. This way, ASB hopes to bring the school together rather than poke fun at certain individuals.
"It [the wall] helps bring people together through the rejections and helps people not take it so personally," said Lose. "It's a 'we're all in this together' kind of thing," Lose said.
Originally, the wall was intended only for rejection letters, but Lose wanted to also add the deferment letters because of the particularly high amount of early deferments that seniors received this year. "So many people were deferred early decision this year and I think it was a big frustration among the senior class, so we are considering allowing people to submit deferment letters," Lose said.
Before anything can begin, ASB will have to meet with the administration to make sure it is appropriate and acceptable in accordance with the schools rules and policies.
According to Lose, Principal McEvoy did not like the idea when it was presented to her and did not agree to support it, but if Lose finds a teacher that would sponsor and address any complaints that the wall might receive, then the project should proceed.
Senior Colin Byrne expressed similar feelings to that of the student body.
"I think the wall is all in good humor. It's a positive thing that brings us closer together as a student body. I can't see why we wouldn't have one," he said.
Lose envisions that the wall will be up until around May 1, the date seniors must notify the college they choose to attend. Lose's hopes that by reinstating the rejection wall, the stressful college process will be a little more bearable for the senior classes.
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A rejection wall reinforces the idea that it's IMPOSSIBLE to get into college--which isn't true. If the colleges have a ridiculously low admit rate, it's a long-shot chance of admission for the most talented students. And many students without such strong profiles still apply to these schools!
In response to "A Lurker", I think that the people who really benefit from and understand the benefits of the rejection wall are the seniors going through the admissions process. As a Paly senior who's already been rejected from one of her top choices (and waiting on the other), I am really happy there is a rejection wall this year. We already know it's "impossible to get into college" - which isn't true, as most (if not all) of the people putting letters on the rejection wall have already gotten acceptances elsewhere - and the wall helps us see that we are not alone. It's catharsis - a way to laugh at our rejections with our friends and move on. And for the underclassmen who might see this as scary - you don't have to look at it. It's fairly easily avoidable.
As for students without "strong profiles" applying to colleges they will most likely be rejected from, that is either the fault of chance or the student if the student didn't apply to safeties as well. It isn't the "fault" of the rejection wall. Long live the rejection wall!