Sims are not accepted in any of the universities. However, they can still enroll.

Distinguished degrees are only available if your sim is accepted, that's the difference. You can always "go" to a university, but you cannot get a Distinguished degree without acceptance.

So, basically, sims who don't get accepted will end up starting a bit lower on the ladder in their career after university and not have access to some of the better scholarships.

There is no being accepted or being rejected. Your sims will always get accepted. But not every sim gets a chance of obtaining a distinguished degree (which I see has happened to you).

So for now, you could wait some time (about a week or 5 days) until you can apply again hoping to get your sim into distinguished degrees. Be sure to build up skills during that time!

Or you could take up a regular degree (arts and humanitarian at Foxbury, science and other stuff at Britechester). It won't benefit you as much as distinguished would (start career at level 7 if possible and less entry pay), but if your sim graduates with honors (GPA A+), the benefits will be the same as distinguished without honors.

"EgonVM;c-18063767" wrote:
, but if your sim graduates with honors (GPA A+), the benefits will be the same as distinguished without honors.

That actually depends on which career you go into. For some careers graduation with a regular degree with honors start 1 career level lower than distinguished without honors. For some it even is the same career level start regardless of degree type and/or honor status. This page details them all.

You also lose out on the potential to earn the distinguished degree scholarships, so that's an additional downside.

Thanks for answering guys. I never knew those before. I'm so dumb. thanks.

"jpsulsuldagdag;c-18063989" wrote:
Thanks for answering guys. I never knew those before. I'm so dumb. thanks.

You are not at all dumb; there's no way to know any of that stuff unless you've played a ton of Sims through universities or read a guide about it. Plus, you asked the question. Asking when you don't know something is the smart thing to do!

"Stormkeep;c-18063990" wrote:

"jpsulsuldagdag;c-18063989" wrote:
Thanks for answering guys. I never knew those before. I'm so dumb. thanks.

You are not at all dumb; there's no way to know any of that stuff unless you've played a ton of Sims through universities or read a guide about it. Plus, you asked the question. Asking when you don't know something is the smart thing to do!

thanks <3

"jpsulsuldagdag;c-18063989" wrote:
Thanks for answering guys. I never knew those before. I'm so dumb. thanks.

I’ve played through university many times and I totally forgot this. I was just getting some teens ready to age up and go, when I thought, “oh no, this girl hasn’t applied yet and it’s going to take days for her to get in!” so I took the extra time for her. But I could have just enrolled her without a distinguished degree and I’m sure she would have been fine. I think maybe we’re just used to having an application process IRL.

"Stormkeep;c-18063775" wrote:

"EgonVM;c-18063767" wrote:
, but if your sim graduates with honors (GPA A+), the benefits will be the same as distinguished without honors.

That actually depends on which career you go into. For some careers graduation with a regular degree with honors start 1 career level lower than distinguished without honors. For some it even is the same career level start regardless of degree type and/or honor status. This page details them all.

You also lose out on the potential to earn the distinguished degree scholarships, so that's an additional downside.

Ah yes, of course. I forgot the scholarship sims will automatically get. Extra money for each distinguished degree qualification isn't bad, eh?

About careers, yes it is different. However, I have noticed a pattern. The level sim begins in depends on whether the career branches out early or late. If it branches out late (Painter for example, which branches out after level 6), whether you graduate with honors or not will not matter. However, what I have said earlier applies to those careers that branch out early (Critic for example, which branches out after level 3) and to active careers which won't branch out at all.

Then there is this oddball career called Astronaut. Because it branches out after level 7 (way too late), every sim with physics or villainy degree will start out at level 8, no matter if it is distinguished or not. Honors won't matter there at all.

I had to look back to one of my videos, which detailed it. I'll share it below at the timestamp the table is in.
https://youtu.be/w7CHXZ2FP6s?t=1879

"jpsulsuldagdag;c-18063989" wrote:
Thanks for answering guys. I never knew those before. I'm so dumb. thanks.

You're not dumb. It's OK to not know things, and the best move to get rid of confusion is asking questions. The only thing I can suggest is enjoy the game. If you are curious about the expansion pack, you may watch the video I have shared for more info.

"EgonVM;c-18064330" wrote:

About careers, yes it is different. However, I have noticed a pattern. The level sim begins in depends on whether the career branches out early or late. If it branches out late (Painter for example, which branches out after level 6), whether you graduate with honors or not will not matter. However, what I have said earlier applies to those careers that branch out early (Critic for example, which branches out after level 3) and to active careers which won't branch out at all.

Ahh, that's an excellent observation!

I never noticed that correlation...but then I also never recall what careers branch when. I'd be hard-pressed to even remember what the numerical career level even was for a sim I'm actively playing without looking it up. :lol:
I definitely appreciate you pointing out the pattern though, it helps have it make sense how they implemented and without knowing that pattern it certainly has the appearance of not making any sense.

Don't do it! Scool is four sucerez! Drop owt, all thu kool kids is doin it!

Ahem, sorry for that, my adolescent other voice took over for moment. I thought I had him locked up tight.

Anyway, this is all good information. My sim-son, Porter is planning on going to University but I've never put a teen through the process before. So good knowledge. Thanks for asking!

To kool four skool! Don't mak me go!

Shut up, Porter! You're going and YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT! Or I'll cut down all of your plants and burn them!