College Rejections: What to Do If Your Child Doesn’t Get Into Their Dream School

Early Decision and Early Action results are rolling in — and for many families, emotions are running high. In this episode of Old College Try, Matt Carpenter and Peggy Keough, the Fair Godmother of Financial Aid, break down what families should do when early college decisions arrive… especially when the answer isn’t what you hoped for.

They walk through the key differences between Early Decision, Early Action, deferrals, waitlists, and rejections, and share practical next steps for each scenario. Most importantly, Matt and Peggy dive deep into the emotional side of the college admissions process — how parents can support their students through disappointment, manage expectations, and keep perspective when a “dream school” says no.

Drawing from personal stories, professional experience, and years of working with families, this conversation reframes college rejection as a life lesson, not a life sentence. If your family is navigating early admissions decisions — or preparing for them — this episode offers reassurance, strategy, and much-needed clarity.

Topics covered include:

• What to do after an Early Decision acceptance

• How to respond to deferrals and waitlists

• Why college admissions decisions are business decisions, not personal judgments

• How parents can model healthy mindset and resilience

• Why where you go to college is not who you become

Whether your student was accepted, deferred, waitlisted, or denied, this episode will help you move forward with confidence and perspective.

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