After declining Columbia’s psychology MA program, I reflected on the academic advice that helped me make peace with the decision. My supervisor reminded me to look beyond prestige and ask a harder question: what is the step after this step?

I got into Columbia’s psychology master’s program — and I declined their offer. For a long time, I thought an Ivy League acceptance would give me the validation, access, and security I had been chasing. But after admitted students day, hard conversations about funding, and a lot of reflection, I realized I had to choose the path that actually aligned with the psychologist I want to become.