Instead of sending Oswego State applicants letters of rejection, the school is instead considering an “Admission Promise Program.” What this means is that instead of people getting a “no” from the school, they get a letter saying that they do not have the room for the many students who deserve to get in, and that they should consider applying again in the future. This seems like a good idea, at first. Rejection letters, be it from a school or a job are tough. They are awful. They can cause all sorts of emotional trauma and sometimes result in a severe drop in self-esteem for a period of time.

The problem with this solution: it is an idea that justifies lying to hopeful prospects and potentially causes them more emotional and mental damage. The explanation the school comes up with – that the students cannot attend due to limited space – is ridiculous and, ignoring the fact that it should not be a pressing problem. For starters, if the school really had a spacial issue, that would either place them in jeopardy for perjury or would be a situation that they would be currently trying to remedy. But regardless of whether space at the school is an actual issue is besides the point. The fact that the school would even consider using this as a substitution for rejection letters is a stupid idea that would end up causing more damage in the long run it is a little white lie that ends up causing a lot of mental damage and feelings of impunity when revealed.

Rejection is hard, which comes from someone who has already dealt with rejection letters from several jobs. The difference was that sense of preparation, because knowing that rejection is a very real possibility can actually sometimes serve as the best kind of motivation. The idea of it may not be very nice, but the long lasting positive effects it can have on the right people, presented in the right climate, can make all the difference.

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