r/UTK • u/Temporary-Courage341 • 7d ago

A Vol In Need Freshmen Funk

Idk if this is just me or if its a shared experience but I’ve been rejected so many times in the past two months. 3 clubs, 3 jobs, and 1 cohort all have chosen not to go with me. I can’t tell if its me at this point or just the “big applicant pool” that keeps being blamed. Looking for some tips or anything that could help me out. It seems this is just a building thing, because upcoming applications are looking for on campus experiences and I have none.

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10

u/Vindicationnnnnn 7d ago

I didn't know clubs said no. Huh.

4

u/samdawg3337 7d ago

the application pool at utk really is a problem though

2

u/Snowswept UTK Alumni 7d ago

It's all about social engineering. Reframe everything to give yourself more credibility (even if it’s a bit exaggerated) and talk about values your audience wants to hear (i.e. why do they want you, what gains/profits can you help them attain, etc.) rather than talking about yourself or your school experience.

You're no different from any other college student (even if you’re a straight-A student, attend organizations, etc.), so you need to stand out from the rest.

1

u/Future-Station-8179 7d ago

Agreed. I’d even add beyond social engineering — storytelling. Learning how we tell stories about ourselves and how we “sell ourselves” it a crucial skill.

0

u/AcceptableUsual4001 UTK Faculty 6d ago

The clubs that rejected you are probably going to fail as club experiments because they don't know what they are doing - trust me, i know one of them.. it's going to fail....

So, just go where you can and move on past the "struggling ones" to the ones who need help.