How to Not Take Program Rejection Personally?

[u/Simple-Challenge-563]

For the better part of a year, I’ve been going through the application process for an ADI-accredited program. I haven’t heard back either way yet, but I’m trying to brainstorm strategies to handle the potential rejection.

It’s been such a long and involved process that I can’t help but be emotionally invested—due to the time/effort I’ve put into the process and the opportunity cost of not being able to apply to other programs in the meantime. It’s hard to ask for help, because doing so requires admitting that you do need help, which makes the prospect of not getting help even more painful. Ugh, such feelings!

Does anyone have advice or wisdom to share?

For the person who may find this post years from now, here’s how I’ve been coping:

-working out

-complaining to friends, then distracting myself by learning about their lives

-applying to jobs—might as well lean into the rejection, right?

-rereading my favorite books

[u/Shanna_B2020]

This, but there isn't any reason you can't apply to more than one program, especially if you're wanting to minimize wait times.

Some agencies have ridiculously high criteria too.

[u/Simple-Challenge-563 → u/Shanna_B2020]

Oh that would be smart! Unfortunately, to continue in the application process I had to sign essentially a non-compete that I wouldn’t apply elsewhere while waiting to hear back.

It’s a bummer though, at least 2x programs that I could’ve applied to have now closed their applications for the next couple of years.

[u/Icy-Safety-7850]

Take care of yourself! Waiting sucks. Be as strong and healthy (mentally and physically) as you can possibly be while you wait. Do things that make you happy.

*

One thing that helped me while I went through the application process was imagining my routines with a dog.

I asked myself “Could a dog help with this? How?” probably a dozen times a day. (Sometimes the answer was no, but if yes, I got a better sense of which tasks I’d benefit from.)

I thought about where I’d position by pup at checkouts, under tables, and on buses. I found local parks where I could easily exercise them.

Nothing could have prepared me for the learning curve of working with my individual SD, but I tried to shift my mindset so that accommodating a dog in my daily life would become natural by the time I met them. I also researched other programs and made a clear next step, just in case. Rejection from one ADI program doesn’t mean you won’t match with a service dog, only that they can’t provide you one right now.

[u/Simple-Challenge-563 → u/Icy-Safety-7850]

Thank you for these tips!

Love the idea of creating a next steps plan to outline an approach for either outcome. That’ll be actionable and helpful either way.

It’s hard not to assign additional significance to their decision, even though rationally I know it isn’t a judgement on me as a person.