I recently received this message from a reader who wanted to know if she could appeal her rejection:
Hi Maija,
I would really appreciate your advice with an issue concerning my Sciences Po Application. Unfortunately, today I received my rejection from the University. However, I am very much confident that there must be some sort of mistake.
I know this might sound too self-confident, but I am sure that I had an excellent application. I prepared every single component in advance, from recommendation and motivation letter to a well-planned gap year that perfectly fits the Student Profile of PSIA.
Plus, I was really expecting an offer– especially since two students from my home University with worse grades, less practical experience and an overall average profile got admitted. I know that all sounds a little arrogant, yet I was very confident with my application and therefore really irritated about my rejection.
Could you give me any advice in this manner. How can I deal with this Situation. Would it make any sense to contact the Admission Office directly?
The first is “Can I appeal my rejection?”
The second question is “Will it work?”
Perhaps the more important questions here, though, are:
“Was my application not excellent?”
and
“Did these other two students with worse grades and less practical experience really have better applications than I did?”
(I did not personally review this student’s application, nor did I review the applications of the other two students mentioned.)
Keep in mind that Sciences Po looks for much more than good grades and good practical experiences.
Did you accurately explain what your career plans are and how Sciences Po can help you to achieve them? Did you show intellectual curiosity and a strong capacity for leadership?
Even given all of the admissions criteria, perhaps you truly were a better applicant than your peers.
Maybe you were just unable to express that clearly in words.