Still quite sad abt rejection

[u/Ball_iceball]

I’m a student who wants to pursue animation in the future. I found this one prestigious university that offers animation which is quite rare. Since my grades, ECs and artportflio were solid, I had some faith even though they select 16 ppl per year. However I got rejected two weeks ago,while my friends got in with different major. I was sad..

I feel like I wanted go here especially because of its recognition. Everyone knows it’s a very competitive school so I wanted validation by going into that school. I know ppl say validation isn’t everything. but right now, it feels like it is. I just really wanted to show people how hard I worked…

Although I was accepted to art colleges with lots of scholarships, but the one that I’m going to, people in the art world know that the 3d animation program is one of the best in the U.S, but those unfamiliar with art don’t really recognize its value. Also that college don’t seem to care abt grades, making me feel as if my high gpa were useless.

I know I’m being very extreme right now, but I just wanted to let this emotion out somewhere. I’m having a hard time moving on. I feel afraid to tell people where I’m going because most of my friends are heading to really prestigious universities. I know my path is different.. I’m going into animation, and not many well known, prestigious universities offer that but still, I can’t help how I feel. Can anyone pls give me advice.

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[u/Ball_iceball → u/[deleted]]

Nop usc 😭

[u/NaoOtosaka → u/Ball_iceball]

usc for the arts (both music and visual) is a whole different world from usc for everything else. try not to beat yourself up too hard from comparing yourself with your friends

[u/Ball_iceball → u/NaoOtosaka]

Okay 🥹 thx!

[u/christine921]

hi
I am going through the same thing now. I did get into some decent colleges, but they are just not what I want to go to. In fact, I know nothing about the city that I just committed to because I have never thought that I would be going there. It really really sucks.

It's completely normal that you are having a hard time moving on. You sound very hardworking and definitely deserve something better. I hate how unfair the world is...

I just want to let you know that everything will work out in the end. It sounds very cliche, but this seems like the only way out. We can be sad, but in the end, we have to stand up for ourselves and continue with our lives.

Maybe you will like your new school or transfer to somewhere even better! Regardless, I wish you all the best and hope you feel better :)

[u/Ball_iceball → u/christine921]

Thank you so much I wish you all the best too🥺🥺

[u/HappyCava]

It might help to focus on two things. First, the validation you seek is very ephemeral. Once everyone has made their college choice and then graduated, the college chatter dies down markedly. At that point, everyone will be getting ready for their own exciting, upcoming experience — orientation, finding a roommate, shopping for dorm decor, course selection — and you’ll only be interacting with genuine friends who are excited for you.

Second, you are seeking validation using criteria that don’t generally apply to your field. As you noted, you received admissions and scholarships to schools that specialize in art, and are in fact attending a school that is “one of the best in the US” for 3D animation. Your upcoming classmates and those who work in 3D animation will shortly be your peers and community, not the guy you sat next to in freshman biology. You should be excitedly looking towards your upcoming college experience, not trying to impress students who know little about your upcoming studies and your future career.

Finally, to the extent you care, your classmates will take their cues from you. If someone asks you what college you are attending, and you look down and mumble “blah blah university,” they’ll assume you’re disappointed. If you look them in the eye, smile, give them the name, and say proudly, “I’m super-excited. It has the top 3D animation program in the country. I’m hoping to work for X or Y, and they both recruit heavily from this program.” In other words, either don’t care what your (now temporary) uneducated peers think, or educate them.

Congratulations and best of luck!

[u/Ball_iceball → u/HappyCava]

Thx for your advice, I really appreciate it 🥹

[u/Ok_Experience_5151]

It sounds like the art school you were admitted to is "prestigious" within the universe of animation, which is all that really matters. Consider the example of the Curtis Institute of Music. Extremely prestigious within the context of music performance, but fairly unknown to the lay person who isn't in that "world". Also doesn't care about grades so much. If you were admitted to the animation equivalent of Curtis then you should be over-the-moon happy.