Why this teen decided to share the rejection letter she received from her dream university

Getting a rejection letter from the university feels terrible for someone just starting college. Everything you hoped for suddenly breaks, and you’re left not knowing what’s next.

Nicole Laeno had long wanted to attend the University of California, Los Angeles. On March 15, she and her family sat down in Torrance, California, to see if she got in.

Sadly, she discovered she wasn’t accepted into her dream school. The 18-year-old, who’s been making content since middle school, captured her emotional response and posted it on TikTok.

It’s blown up, getting over 49 million views and more than 46,000 comments.

Rachel Scott, a senior correspondent at ABC News, recounted her own experience of being rejected from her dream school and highlighted how it ultimately led to positive outcomes.

“I got rejected from my dream school – it was the best thing that ever happened to me. You can’t connect the dots going forward but one day, looking back you’ll see it led you to where you need to be,” she wrote.

Despite disappointment, Nicole courageously shared her tears and the news of her rejection with her large social media following.

She aimed to authentically portray the ups and downs of growing up, including her reactions to college decisions, believing in sharing the complete process with her audience.

“I’ve always wanted to share just the real stuff about growing up, and I already knew when college decisions came around, I just wanted to record all of it, my reactions, everything that went down, and just the whole process in general,” Nicole told Good Morning America.

Nicole always thought she would get accepted to the university.

She visited the UCLA campus, participated in their dance clinics, and bought lots of merchandise to proudly represent the school she truly considered her dream school.

“When I got my rejection letter from my dream school, it was just kind of like a knife to the heart,” Nicole said, adding that it feels like you’ve put in all your effort for this moment. When it doesn’t happen, it’s disappointing.

Nicole’s mom, Linda Laeno, shared how tough it was for her to witness her daughter’s emotional rollercoaster of hope and disappointment.

“My heart broke for her,” the mom of two said. “This poor girl fantasized about this, like her whole life. … I was beside myself.”

Meanwhile, Nicole felt reassured knowing she could handle the tough decision with her family’s backing.

She relied on their support during the overwhelming and stressful process, particularly during the UCLA decision, where their presence meant everything to her.

Moreover, Nicole felt better knowing about others’ rejections online.

“It makes me really reassured that I will be OK. And I always knew that, but just hearing those words from people that already went through it, I was like, ‘OK, that’s good. It’s gonna be good,'” she said.

A month after receiving a rejection letter, Nicole feels she’s probably cried enough and has chosen to attend San Diego State University in Southern California.

She plans to major in communications there.

“I committed to SDSU – San Diego State University,” Nicole said, adding that she has moved on from the rejection and she’s eagerly anticipating new opportunities and experiences, as well as considering joining clubs or a sorority.

Linda advises parents with college-bound children to offer unwavering support, strength, and reassurance of love and value, regardless of their children’s college decisions.

Furthermore, Nicole reassured fellow high schoolers facing uncertainty about their future, highlighting that there’s hope even after rejection.

She advises fellow seniors facing disappointment to accept their feelings and allow themselves to cry if necessary.

She also highlights that rejection can open doors to new opportunities and ultimately steer them towards their destined path.

“You’ll be able to get to a place where you’re happy and excited for a different thing,” she said.

Watch Nicole’s reaction after receiving a crushing rejection letter from UCLA:

Follow Nicole on TikTok for some fun videos.