From 10 college rejections to India's Number 1 college: a journey

Arguably, one of the most exciting times on LinkedIn is college acceptance season; seeing students get accepted into their dream colleges and checking their profile to get a glimpse of their journey to reach that destination, it is in some bits heartwarming and intimidating for those who got rejected.

That was me, an intimidated student who had no idea where life might take her this year. However, my story stands incomplete without recapitulating the last two years of high school.

Fresh out of 10th grade, frustrated at home due to the pandemic and grateful for my board marks, it was time for me to choose the subjects that would possibly decide the course of my life. I contemplated between a Humanities plus Maths stream, and science (namely Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics). My passion towards Mathematics and my dream of pursuing computer science and artificial intelligence swayed my decision towards picking PCM. To keep my humanities mind alive, I decided to take Economics along with PCM.

Naturally, like most students who want to pursue anything in the technology spectrum, I started preparing for JEE. However, I just couldn't get myself to stop engaging in all the co-curricular activities, that above anything, brought me joy. Whether it was debating, MUNing, theatre, football or being a part of the student council, I never shied away from an opportunity.

Fast forward to my first JEE attempt: to keep it short and crisp I didn’t fare well, not only in my parents and teacher’s eyes but also my own. The result acted like a wakeup call, but what wasn’t clear was whether I was waking up for exam season or to realize that my interests didn’t lie in science. I entered the 12th board exam season in the epitome of fear, confusion and lots and lots of stress. Studying for the exams made me realize that learning concepts of Physics and Chemistry seemed like tasks for me while studying for exams like Mathematics and Economics was something I used to look forward to. Multiple breakdowns and panic-attacks later I completed the exams. However, much to my dilemma, the entrance exam saga of my life had just begun.

I don’t know if I should be celebrating my dedication or questioning my life choices but I gave about 10-15 entrance exams. All ranging from engineering, integrated program management, business and CUET. What did they result in? Rejection after rejection after rejection. I was absolutely devastated. Every single day I used to wake up with the uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty. I just couldn’t figure out where I was going wrong: “should I focus on one exam?”, “I should’ve started preparing for this exam a few months ago”, “Am I even cut out to give these exams?” or “am I simply not smart enough?” Out of all the horror movies I have watched, the scariest has to be the feeling of helplessness and not knowing what comes next.

In a month’s time or so the 12th grade board exam results rolled around. I got the ‘average- smart kid’ score of 93; not too good and not too bad. But, my unsatisfactory performance in Physics and Chemistry made me realize I just wasn’t passionate about the subjects to study them in college and ultimately, I made the stern decision to not pursue engineering. I thought, “Better late then never” and moved on.

So here I was, I went from the girl who had her whole career planned out to the girl who had no idea what she was going to pursue at college or which college she was going to. The tale of rejection continued, some by a small margin others by a greater one. I just wasn’t able to crack it. But, in my heart I knew I belonged to one of India’s best colleges, so I didn’t want to compromise my dream and go to a place where I wouldn’t be happy in. That is to say, I did in fact reject a lot of private colleges that I did manage to get in, hoping to reach where I was destined to go to.

Amongst the large array of examinations I also decided to use my passion for co-curriculars and applied to Delhi University with an Extra curriculars quota; namely, theatre and English debate.

The CUET results kept pouring in: The first list was a no-go, my marks were on the lower end and the course of my interest had very few seats, so not cutting it in the first list was something I was expecting. I opened the second with a lot of hope, but that also resulted in a shattered heart.

At this point, I was so used to rejection that I started preparing for a gap year and started studying for entrance exams to give next year. Perhaps with greater focus and determination this time. But on 22nd August 2023, my life changed forever.

It was a normal Tuesday; I knew the third and final list of delhi university with ECA and Sports quota seats was supposed to be released. My friend texts me asking about my results and that’s when I realize that the results are out. This time I open the app with absolutely no hope. I looked at the button and said, “let's just rip the bandage of” and clicked on my seat allocation. There it was. College assigned: Miranda House, course BA Program: Economics and Political Science.

I simply couldn’t believe my eyes.

Who knew the hobbies I picked up out of pure interest would get me into India’s number 1 college (NIRF rankings 2022).

At the end life led me to study the subject that didn't ever seem like a task and something that always sparked my interest, that along with political science makes my aim of becoming a diplomat all the more near and possible.

A week later, as I write this from the library of Miranda house my advice to all the high school students reading this is to never ever give up and when the time comes, move on. With all the rejections I faced, I accepted my fate and moved on to another. A single line of rejection was not going to stop me from fulfilling my aspirations. You will never know what the future may have in store for you, but you must always remember to keep moving forward, and look back at the tougher times only to learn something from them.

As I start this new chapter of my life, I take lessons from this phase; lessons that something better is coming, whether it is god’s plan or your hard work IT WILL PAY OFF. Just trust yourself and have the patience to wait until the good times roll around.

I leave you with the quote that got me though this time in my life: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but rising each time we fall.” So readers, fall, scrape your knees, twist your ankle or lose balance but never ever stop.

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