DD and rejections from two unis in the space of an hour - any advice?

[tartanbuggy]

DD is taking A-Levels and hoping to study architecture. She received her first rejections last night (from UCL and Oxford Brookes) after having submitted on-line portfolio. It has really knocked her for six and she just keeps crying that it was because her "portfolio was crap" and "she's crap". She had absolutely set her heart on UCL and although she knew it was hugely sought after, I think the outright, black and white, NO has hugely dented her confidence.

I have done the usual mum things of saying it's fine to have a feeling sorry for yourself period, not to make any rash decisions at this stage, that there are other universities to consider, that it's not a case of UCL or nothing, that neither she nor her portfolio are crap, keep concentrating on A-Levels, etc etc. She has a couple of interviews coming up, but she's now worried that her "crapness" will shine out and she'll be rejected from there too.

Anybody got any advice on helping DCs to deal with the rejection and move on? Or any stories of rejection actually turning out to be for the best? I think DD is more likely to listen to others' experiences rather than mum's spoutings ...

That is a pretty accurate description of Bartlett actually!

Said it on the Oxbridge thread and it's worth saying again...

Dd1 is final year. She is top in her year (Russell group uni)winning prizes, having a phenomenally good time socially as well as academically.

It was a big kick in the teeth to get the oxford rejection. She actually only had 2 offers despite being AAA* predicted and that's what she got.

However , ultimately one form and on insurance is all you can hold and ONE place is all you can take up.

She's thinking maybe she'll go to oxford for her MA.. But the funding is better where she is.

A friends DC is now in the fourth or fifth year of architecture and it is a very challenging path to take, and developing the resilience to have faith in your creative skills now will stand your DD in good stead. Each academic has their own subjective priorities and the DC missed out on a 2.1 because their vision didn't quite match that of the uni department (one of the best places to study) They struggled to get a placement as a result but once they did, sadly through parental influence they have done very well. All that zgaze says is true though.

Encourage you DD to see this as a learning experience to prepare for a very challenging career path.

Can we not stray into racist territory here?
it was not 'racist' it was an observation I have made after working with many Bartlett students.