Admissions Decisions

Admitted: You applied using one of the various types of application and the school decided you are a great fit.

You still need to accept or reject the offer by the May 1st deadline.
If you applied for Financial Aid they will send you an award letter or packet to aid in your decision.

✅ You are in. If you decide not to attend, notify the school as soon as you can to allow other students to be admitted in your place.

Rejected: The school has decided you are not a good fit at this time. It's time to look at other schools on your list.

You can reapply the following year or as a transfer student after earning new credits and compiling new grades and scores to share with the school.

❌ You are not in.

Deferred Decision: You applied early (Early Action or Early Decision), but the college isn't ready to make a final decision yet.

Your application is moved to the regular decision pool for re-evaluation.
You’ll receive a final decision later in the spring.
You’re still in the running—not accepted or rejected yet.

❌ ✅ You are not in yet! You may want to send updated grades, achievements, or a letter of continued interest. Be sure to follow the instructions of your specific college following a deferral.

Deferred Admission: You've been accepted, but you choose to delay your enrollment by a semester or a year.

Often used if you're planning a gap year, travel, work, or personal reasons.
Not all schools allow this—some require a formal request.

✅ You're admitted but starting later than originally planned.

Conditional or Alternate Admission: You weren’t admitted into your first-choice program or major, but the school offers you a spot in a different program, campus, or semester.

Admitted to a spring semester instead of fall.
Offered admission to a satellite campus instead of the main one.
Placed in a pre-major or exploratory program.
Need to participate in a study abroad program your first semester or year.

✅ You’re in, but not exactly as you applied. Carefully consider if you are willing to enroll in this alternate opportunity to attend the school.

Wait List: The college may admit you if space becomes available after accepted students decide.

You’re not admitted, but not rejected.
Offers are made after May 1 (Decision Day) depending on yield.
Find out how many students they traditionally admit from their watlist in order to have realistic expectations.

❌✅ It's like a backup pool. You should accept another offer.

Direct Admission: Some colleges offer admission to students based on the basic information in their Common Application, including GPA and their school’s GPA scale, without the student actually applying to the college or university.

Nine public universities in Illinois now participate in this opportunity both through Common App and through the One Click College Admit program.
Many other universities across the country are also participating.
If you are offered admission to a school, it will show in your common application notifications

✅ You are in! You will still need to follow up to accept the offer and send any required documents.

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