College Bound Mentor – Extra Credit '25: What Happens if You Don't Get Into Your ED (Early Decision) School?

Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Lisa Bleich, Abby Power, Stefanie Forman
Guest: Zoe Schack (Mount St. Mary Academy graduate)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie delve into one of the most emotional aspects of college admissions: not getting into your Early Decision (ED) school. They feature Zoe Schack, a former ED applicant who was denied admission to her dream school but ultimately found clarity, growth, and incredible opportunities through the process. Through Zoe’s story, the hosts offer guidance and encouragement to students facing similar disappointments, emphasizing resilience, self-reflection, and openness to new possibilities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Early Decision Results

• Initial Stress and Self-Doubt: The team acknowledges the high hopes and deep disappointments that come with ED decisions, including regret, confusion, and questioning self-worth ([00:19]–[08:01]).
  • “A lot of times the answer is…there's just too many applicants.” – Lisa ([00:41])
• Reality Check: Often, rejections have little to do with the individual’s merit. The sheer volume of qualified applicants can make outcomes unpredictable.

Zoe’s High School Journey and Application Profile

• Accomplished and Engaged: Zoe details her involvement in mental health advocacy, including starting her own group and giving a TEDx talk, alongside leadership in debate, music, and voting rights ([02:35]–[03:31]).
• Project Impact: Her advocacy created “a ripple effect that encourages other young people to take a stance,” inspiring her peers ([04:47]).

Why Swarthmore College for Early Decision?

• Intellectual Environment: Drawn by its rigorous academics and activism, Zoe sought Swarthmore’s “close-knit intellectual curiosity” ([05:47]–[06:47]).
• Size and Fit: Coming from a small high school, she initially wanted a similar college environment.

Coping with Rejection from Swarthmore

• Surprise and Pain: Zoe describes being “really upset” and self-critical upon being denied admission to Swarthmore ([06:57]).
  • “I was really disheartened because I wasn’t sure what I did that wasn’t enough in their eyes.” – Zoe ([06:57])
• Shifting Perspective: Over time, she recognized the process wasn’t personal and that things can work out even better than expected—a “blessing in disguise” ([08:30]).

The Power of Keeping Options Open

• Evolution in Preferences: As the months passed, Zoe’s priorities changed from strictly small schools to a broader range, including larger universities ([09:37]).
  • “I realized that I didn’t necessarily want to limit myself to only small schools… or only liberal arts schools.” – Zoe ([10:05])
• Safety Nets and Early Action: Having acceptances from Seton Hall and others provided reassurance and allowed her to see herself as being “in the driver’s seat” ([11:40]).

Re-Evaluating What Matters: Prestige vs. Fit

• Letting Go of Prestige: Zoe moved from focusing on “the school with the lowest acceptance rate” to asking, “Where will I be happy?” ([13:54]).
  • “There’s a lot more to college than just what other people see, because it’s also about how you enjoy the experience…” – Zoe ([15:11])

Decision Factors and Finding "Her People"

• Narrowing Choices: Ultimately, her decisions came down to Villanova, Fordham, Haverford, and NYU ([13:54]).
• Honors College Advantage: Being admitted to the Villanova Honors College helped her see how a large school could still offer a tight academic community ([16:26]).
  • “You can make a big school small, but you can’t always make a small school big.” – Zoe ([16:38])
• Campus Visits and Community Vibe: Admitted Students Day and connecting with current students played a major role in her final choice ([21:36]–[23:40]).
  • “At Villanova, it feels like they would be honored to have you and have you contribute to their community.” – “That was something that really excited me...I really saw myself kind of fitting into that puzzle and being able to contribute and have my perspective valued there.” – Zoe ([22:54]–[23:40])

Reflection and Advice for Future Applicants

• Personal Growth: Zoe highlights how much she changed during her senior year and how valuable it was to have time to reflect before deciding ([08:30], [17:31]).
• Advice: Don’t get “hung up on the name” or prestige—focus on fit, happiness, and day-to-day student life. Use resources like social media to observe real campus culture ([18:34], [19:41]).
  • “The most important thing…is whether you’ll be happy there and feel like you have a place…” – Zoe ([18:34])
• Practical Tips: Research departments, honors programs, and admitted student communities to get a real sense of where you’ll belong ([19:41]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When you're applying to college, you're only 17 and you're still trying to figure out your identity and what it is that you want in the future.” – Zoe ([00:01], [08:53])
• “Even those small actions can have a really big impact, and they can start these really important conversations…” – Zoe ([04:47])
• “You can make a big school small, but you can’t always make a small school big.” – Zoe ([16:38])
• “Once you choose a college, you’re not going to think about all the other schools that either rejected you or the schools that you turned down.” – Zoe ([19:14])
• “Where am I going to wake up in a dorm and feel happy? Where will I be able to get involved in the way that’s the most suitable to me as an individual?” – Zoe ([14:09])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19–01:49 – Framing the episode: dealing with ED denial, intro to Zoe
• 02:35–03:31 – Zoe’s extracurriculars and leadership roles
• 04:39–05:23 – Impact of Zoe’s mental health advocacy
• 05:47–06:47 – Why Zoe applied Early Decision to Swarthmore
• 06:57–08:01 – Coping with rejection and initial emotional impact
• 08:30–09:20 – How Zoe’s perspective shifted after rejection
• 09:37–10:42 – Changing priorities and broadening college search
• 11:40–12:47 – The value of EA acceptances as a safety net
• 13:27–15:18 – Prestige vs. fit in the college decision process
• 16:26–16:54 – Honors Colleges as hidden gems for personalized experiences
• 17:31–18:16 – Would Swarthmore still be a good fit, in hindsight?
• 18:34–19:24 – Advice for rising seniors: focus on community and fit
• 19:41–21:36 – How to research fit using online student communities
• 21:36–23:40 – What sealed the decision for Villanova
• 24:19–25:17 – Fun fact: Appealing a college rejection (University of Wisconsin)
• 25:21–26:40 – Fun fact: Florida in-state tuition waivers for students with FL grandparents

Language, Tone, and Final Encouragement

The episode is supportive, empathetic, and practical—filled with personal anecdotes, reassuring observations, and actionable advice. The mentors’ and Zoe’s voices are conversational and uplifting. They repeatedly remind listeners that rejection is rarely personal and that self-awareness and open-mindedness are key to finding the right college home.

Quick Takeaways

• Your college admissions journey is about finding a place where you’ll truly thrive, not just a name or prestige.
• Early disappointments can open doors to unexpected and even better opportunities.
• Research deeply: go beyond stats and rankings, and look for communities, programs, and experiences that match who you are and who you want to become.