Didn’t Get Into College? Try a Rejection Cake

In the age of viral college acceptance videos and decked-out bedroom celebrations, some high school seniors are flipping the script on rejection—and doing it with frosting.

The latest trend on social media? Rejection cakes.

Instead of quietly mourning the dreaded “We regret to inform you,” students like Ceci Skala from Needham, Massachusetts, are choosing to commemorate college rejections with a sense of humor—and a slice of cake. In a TikTok video that’s racked up more than 5 million views, Skala and her friends gather around a dessert decorated with the names and flags of elite universities that turned them down. They cheerfully chant, “This is our rejection cake!”

The cake, adorned with rejection pins from schools like Harvard, Yale, USC, Dartmouth, and Georgetown, isn’t just a joke—it’s a coping mechanism.

For Skala, who applied to 12 schools and was waitlisted at her top choice, the experience of laughing together with friends helped take the sting out of what can be a demoralizing time.

“If you’re applying to a hard college and you’re seeing all these acceptance videos, it’s going to hurt,” she says in the video. “You don’t see all the videos of everybody else getting rejected.”

She’s right. Social media is saturated with scenes of joy and triumph during admissions season, leaving many students to quietly question their worth in the absence of similar celebrations. The rejection cake offers an antidote to that pressure—one that says it’s okay to laugh through the disappointment.

And Skala’s not alone. A quick scroll through TikTok reveals other teens sharing their own versions of the trend, with cakes labeled things like “At least I have cake!” or “Rejection never tasted so sweet.”

In a way, it’s a refreshing counter to the curated perfection of college-bound content.

The trend, while playful, taps into something real: the collective anxiety, comparison, and stress baked into the modern college admissions process. By turning rejection into a shared joke (and dessert), students are reclaiming their narrative—and finding a little bit of joy in the “no.”

Who knew a denial could taste this good?

@ceciska12
Rejection cake!! ❌❌ (I promise shiran is going to college) #rejection #college
♬ original sound – ceci

The #1 Thing Americans Are Experts on Is Pretty Pathetic

Forget coding, investing, or, you know, actual job skills. America’s passions these days lie elsewhere.

According to a new poll, the average American’s top area of expertise is now… reality TV.

Out of 2,000 people surveyed, respondents rated themselves on various topics using a 1 to 10 scale. And “reality TV show drama” came out on top with an average self-rating of 6.4 out of 10.

Coming in just behind reality TV were social media trends and DIY projects, both clocking in at 6.0. Trending music scored a 5.9.

But the real surprise? Interest rates – yes, the thing that determines what your mortgage costs – scored a 5.7. Either people are more financially literate than we thought, or everyone’s just been doomscrolling too much news about the Fed. (The study was commissioned by Lending Club, so that might have had something to do with it too.)

How our collective “expertise” shakes out:

Obscure movie and TV trivia (5.6)
Reality TV show drama (6.4)
Social media trends (6.0)
Home improvement/DIY projects (6.0)
Trending music (5.9)
Interest rates (5.7)
Obscure facts about movies and TV shows (5.6)
General trivia (5.4)
History (5.3) (Sounds impressive until you realize “I watched Hamilton” might’ve factored in there.)
Health and fitness (4.8)
Saving money (3.9)

There’s definitely something to unpack here about how our media consumption shapes our knowledge base. But at least w’ere experts on something, right? Sure, you don’t know how compound interest works. But you can list every feud in Real Housewives of New Jersey in order.

At the very least, it proves one thing: The average American may not be qualified to manage their 401(k), or even know how a basic light bulb works… but you want them on your team for that pop culture trivia night.

Seven Questions to Ask Your Kid After School That Might Actually Get an Answer

If your post-school check-ins with your kid usually go like this:

You: “How was school today?”
Them: “Fine.”
You: “…That’s it?”
Them: [walks away in silence]

You’re not alone. But the issue might not be their mood—it might be your question.

According to a therapist’s advice that’s making the rounds, the trick isn’t to stop asking questions. It’s to start asking better ones. These seven questions are designed to break through the “meh” wall and actually get your kid talking.

1. “What was the best part of your day?”

This one pushes them to scan their brain for a highlight—anything from nailing a test to an epic game of four square. (Warning: “Lunch” and “recess” are very likely answers.)

2. “What’s a mistake you learned from today?”

This frames errors as growth opportunities instead of things to hide. It helps normalize the idea that messing up is part of the process.

3. “Who were you proud of today?”

It’s not just about what they did—it shifts focus to others, and helps you get a glimpse into their values. Bonus: It encourages empathy.

4. “What’s one thing that would’ve made today better?”

This question gives them room to vent a little but also invites solutions, not just complaints. It helps them think critically about how to improve their own experiences.

5. “Who did you help today?”

Even if the answer is “no one,” it plants the idea that helping others is something to strive for. Over time, it could encourage small acts of kindness.

6. “What was the most interesting thing you learned?”

This one taps into curiosity. It can also reveal what really sticks with your kid—whether it’s science facts or some surprisingly niche knowledge about jellyfish.

7. “What’s something new you’d like to try?”

Encouraging kids to explore new interests keeps them open to growth and change. Whether it’s joining a club or trying broccoli, it counts.

Asking better questions won’t magically turn every conversation into a TED Talk, but they’re a great way to open the door to more meaningful interactions. Try swapping out the standard “How was your day?” for one of these and see what happens. You might just learn something cool about your kid—and maybe even about yourself.

Only 6% of Us Think Our I.Q. Is Below Average

The only thing we’ve really learned about the “average American” here is… they’re maybe a bit too confident.

A new poll asked people how they think their own intelligence compares to other people’s, and the results are pure statistical comedy.

Just 6% of people think they have a below-average I.Q.

Which is… not how averages work. Statistically speaking, half of any group are below average, and half are above. (Or, maybe more like 49.9% on either side to account for those Average Joes who really do land smack dab in the middle.)

We’re much more likely to think we’re “about average”

39% think they’re right around average, which might be true depending on how you define it. The average I.Q. is (by design) exactly 100, and just over two-thirds of us fall somewhere between 85 and 115. So if you want to include anything in that window as “average,” hey… whatever helps you sleep at night.

We’re even more likely to think we have a high I.Q.

A whopping 46% think they’re smarter than most folks – including 8% who said way above average… presumably while nodding smugly after they got that one “Jeopardy” question right. (Sure, yeah, you’re a genius… the category was “Pop Culture.”)

Another 10% of respondents didn’t even take a guess. They went with “not sure,” which might be the most self-aware response of the bunch.

Why such hubris?

So what’s going on here? Are Americans wildly overconfident? Or is it that we just have a seriously bleak view of the “average American”? If you think you’re the smartest person in the room, is it because you think everyone else is a few fries short of a Happy Meal?

Regardless, one thing’s clear: I.Q. tests may measure intelligence… but they don’t measure humility.

The Most Common High School Experiences We Shared

With graduation season in full swing, a YouGov poll asked thousands of Americans a nostalgic question: If you could go back and do high school all over again, would you?

For many of us, the answer is HELL NO!! But that’s not actually how the majority of Americans feel about it.

Most Americans would like to revisit their high school years—but maybe with a few do-overs.

55% say they’d go back and relive their teenage years, while 40% say absolutely not. (The other 5% are still on the fence.)

The vast majority of that “yes” crowd would do things a little differently though. Only 12% overall said they’d want to have the exact same high school experience if they went back and did it all over again.

Even across generations, we shared a lot of the same high school moments.

The poll also dove into shared high school experiences, ranking how common certain milestones and memories were. Unsurprisingly, having a crush took the top spot—87% of respondents admitted to pining for someone in high school.

50 High School Moments We Shared

Had a crush on someone: 87%

Had a group of friends or a clique: 83%

Took a class you loved: 79%

Took a class you hated: 79%

Attended a school football game: 68%

Kissed someone: 68%

Lied to your parents: 67%

Took the SAT or ACT: 66%

Went on a date: 65%

Had a boyfriend or girlfriend: 64%

Got your driver’s license: 64%

Went to a school dance: 63%

Had a part-time or full-time job: 62%

Made a close friend you still talk to: 62%

Failed a test: 60%

Had a curfew: 55%

Filled out a college application: 54%

Showed up late to class: 53%

Experienced anxiety or depression: 53%

Went to a house party: 53%

Got grounded by your parents: 52%

Went to prom: 52%

Participated in a school club: 51%

Skipped class without permission: 50%

Drank alcohol: 49%

Hung out at a mall: 49%

Volunteered: 48%

Made the honor roll: 47%

Got bullied by someone: 47%

Drove to school: 45%

Got sent to the principal’s office: 43%

Pulled an all-nighter: 40%

Took an AP or honors class: 40%

Played on a sports team: 39%

Got detention: 37%

Smoked a cigarette: 37%

Had sex: 36%

Got into a physical fight: 35%

Had a cellphone: 35%

Cheated on a test or assignment: 32%

Snuck out of the house at night: 31%

Joined the school band or choir: 31%

Participated in a school play: 30%

Smoked pot: 28%

Had a social media account: 28%

Became close to a teacher you still talk to: 22%

Had braces: 19%

Participated in student government: 16%

Participated in political activism: 11%

Bullied someone: 10%

So, yeah. We went through a lot of the same stuff.

If you experienced all 50 things on that list, you really packed it in! If you experienced none of them… you were probably homeschooled. (But c’mon, your mom must have at least bullied you once!)

What the poll reveals?

While everyone’s high school journey is unique, the poll shows just how many of our experiences—good, bad, and awkward—were shared. And if most of us could go back, we probably wouldn’t change everything, but maybe we’d study a little harder, party a little smarter, or say “hi” to that crush just once.