This cross-case analysis of twelve students who were denied admission to a competitive health professions program at Urban Life Sciences University helps to fill a gap in the literature about how students are able to overcome such an experience despite being faced with uncertainty. Learning how to better serve this population of students is important because many students enter higher education with goals of obtaining degrees in areas where access is limited. The experience of these twelve students was explored across all phases of their educational journey combined with information gathered from four faculty members who serve on the admissions committees for their programs. As expected, academic performance set the base for success for these students. However, these students also shared that improvements in their academic performance were impacted by various strategies they employed during the re-application phase. These students also showed a strong sense of self-efficacy and motivation to reach the goal and they benefitted from a strong relationship with another individual who helped them through the re-application process. Implications from the study include a need for more transparency in the admissions process, student self-awareness of their motivational factors, and a closer look at the advising process for this population. These implications can be used to help guide recommendations for practical changes to better serve this population. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]