The US Choice
Congratulations You have been Accepted to a College in the US!
Once you have heard back from your Universities note the date which they want to receive a reply from you. This is usually MAY 1st if you have a standard application. If you applied as an early decision candidate you may need to reply as early as January. You are responsible for knowing your dates and deadlines.
Getting Responses: There are several types of responses that you might receive from a University.
Accepted: This is a conditional offer based on you meeting the same grades that you had on the trascript that you recieved the offer from. So your final semester grades of DP2 should match your transcript grades from DP2 Semester 1 (Sent in January) or DP1 year grades if you were accepted ED or EA before the semester 1 grades were out.
Denied: This University is not a good fit for you-- their loss!
Deferred: You are still in the running! Usually this is because you applied early (ED/EA) and the application readers see you as a good fit for the school and a strong candidate, but they have a lot of strong candidates for the number of spots that they have. They want you to continue to be considered for the next round of acceptances.
Wait List: This means that they think that you would be great at the school but they are full, so they ask if you wish to be put on the wait list incase a spot opens up. If you are waitlisted, determine first if this school is somewhere that you really want to attend or not. If not let it go. If you do then ask to be added to the wait list. Please note that at some instutions getting off of the wait list is very difficult, so please do not pin all of your hopes and dreams on a waitlisted school.
If you are Waitlisted or Deferred you might consider writing a Letter of Continued Interest. Here are some suggestions of what might be included in that letter.
Accepting US Offers
If you do have a regular deadline take your time to make a considered, thoughtful, and well researched decision.
ONE--Only accept one College or University. You will need to notify the Universities you choose to NOT attend, and pay an enrollment deposit at the College you HAVE chosen to attend. This deposit it NOT REFUNDABLE!
Accepting more than one school and paying more than one deposit may result in your offer being withdrawn! Please go talk to your counselor if you are considering this.
If you are an International Student to the US (No Green Card or US Citizenship) and you did not do so during your application process you will need to fill out a Certification of Finances form for International Students or CFIS form. The best way to find this I have found is to google the name of your University with Certification of Finances for International Students or CFIS and it should pop up. You can contact your University if you are not finding it. Here is a sample from American University for your reference.
Once you Have Accepted your University's Offer
Log on to the schools web site and carefully read all information you are receiving. If you have not received any information please contact someone at the school and ask. If you want/need help figuring out who to contact please come see Ms. Borgerding!
Note all dates and deadlines! Yes there are more things due that may have an impact on your first year! These may include:
Housing and Food Plans: You will need to fill out the housing and food plan applications and make some choices. Please do this soon as many schools have a first come first serve system. This may also mean filling out a roommate form which the University uses to help match you to a roommate.
Dates for registering for classes.
Dates of Freshman Orientation
First date you can move into the Dorm
First day of classes.
3. VISA-- If you need a visa to attend your University. Please start the process as soon as you get the official Visa Letter/Forms from the University. Usually this is an F-1 or Non-Immigrant Student Visa. Note: the CERTIFICATION OF FINANCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (CFIS) will need to be sent in for you to receive the visa paperwork from the University.
