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Detoured Not Deterred

Next Steps After A Denied Application

You Still Have Options

Being denied from a school doesn’t mean your journey is over. Many students go on to find the right fit and finish their degree. This page will help you regroup and move forward.

Denied Compass Logo

Review the Decision

Review your decision letter, it may explain why the application wasn’t accepted (GPA, credits, space limits, missing documents).
If it’s unclear, reach out to the school’s admissions office for clarity. Knowing why helps you decide what to do next.

Find a New Path

Explore programs in the ReUp Learner App:
- Use our filters to search for more options that meet your needs.
- Compare start dates, formats (online, hybrid, evening), and tuition details.
- Favorite programs that match your needs to start a new path quickly.

Make Your Next Application Stronger

Complete or retake key courses if GPA or prerequisites were a barrier.
Gather updated transcripts and recommendation letters if necessary.
Refine your personal statement or resume to highlight your progress and goals.

Motivation and Timing

Revisit the reason you want to return.
Understand how the timing of your return may be impacted.
Can you achieve your goals on an adjusted timeline, or is finding a new program now the best path forward?

Plan Your Finances

Review tuition and fees for any new programs you’re considering in the Learner App.
Check financial aid options: Grants, scholarships, and employer tuition support can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
How does this new path change your financial options?

Talk to Your Coach

Your ReUp success coach can help you understand your next steps.

Explore program options with your coach.
Stay on track to reach your degree goal.
Find support in maintaining your motivation.

Keep Moving Forward

A denial is just a detour. With the right plan — and help from your coach — you can find a program that fits and continue toward graduation.

Help Topics > Motivation

Deciding when—or whether—to go back to college as a working adult can be tough. Here are some questions to help you make the right choice for you.

Why do you want to earn your degree?
How will you juggle coursework with work and family?
Can you learn and grow without returning to college?
Can you afford it?

Consider your responses to the above questions about your motivation, time, energy, flexibility at work, finances, and learning preferences. Are you in a place with those resources that make school realistic for you right now? Think also about whether you have your ducks in a row at school, such as unblocking any holds on your student account and a clear sense of which requirements you’d need to meet to graduate. Then, ask yourself whether you have what you need to succeed or whether you still have work to do. This can help you determine your timeline on returning.

Reach out to a ReUp Coach via the sidebar on your dashboard if you ever need help deciding when a return to school would be best for you.

This depends on how many credits you have remaining and whether or not you'd like to return part-time or full-time. Reaching out to your school to discuss this with an admissions counselor or your academic advisor will provide you with the most accurate timeline that works best for you.

This depends on your previous major and the progress you've made during your previous attendance. This would also be a great question to ask your admissions counselor or your academic advisor.