If you're singing the thin envelope blues, it might be time to change your tune. A rejection letter isn't always the end of the road. For students who play their transfer cards right, what seems like an absolute NO can be turned into a not right now. But if you want to trade up and attend a better college later, then you are going to have to step it up for the next few years.

Lately, the New York Times has been chock full of great college admissions advice so let me share yet another must read article that gives you great strategies for getting a second shot at your dream school:  

Make sure future transfer is an option. At some elite colleges like Harvard, Princeton and Stanford, students admitted as freshmen typically don't leave the school, so there are very few openings for transfers to fill their seats.  Check into the transfer opportunities at the colleges that you are considering and make sure that your goals are realistic. Transfer admissions, just like freshmen college admissions, can be super competitive. Think of it like the Olympic tryouts: if you didn’t make the team in 2009, you need to continue to train and perform better the next time around. You need a stellar GPA and relevant courses in order to successfully transfer. Hint: Bowling 101 might not be your ticket to your dream college.

Colleges often hope their transfer students will bring diversity, maturity and experience to their campus culture. As you are deciding how you are going to build a competitive transfer application for admission, keep in mind that you are more than a great GPA and course transcript. Colleges will want you for your work and character inside and outside of the classroom. Chances are your dream college has enrolled students who know how to party and maintain a good GPA. As a transfer candidate, you need to show that you are going to bring qualities that the college values to the table.

If you want to jumpstart your transfer plan, check out http://www.collegetransfer.net for awesome tools that will help you determine if your dream college is transfer-friendly and how to choose courses that will be a good fit for transfer credit.
 

My advice: There are many paths to success in all facets of life. The key to finding the right path is a commitment to personal progress and defined goals. If you thought that an acceptance or rejection letter was a final verdict, you are delightfully mistaken. You will succeed with either if you are determined to set and achieve your goals.