ADMISSION DECISIONS

First off, congrats on being accepted! You have until May 1 ("Decision Day") to notify colleges of your decision. Here’s what you should do after you receive your college acceptance letters: 

• Learn even more about the schools that accepted you by visiting campus one last time. Talk to real students, visit the dorms and cafeteria, and find out about key academic programs and campus activities.

• Compare financial aid packages to see which makes the most sense for you and your family.

• Keep up your senior year grades!

If you land on a school’s waitlist, you’ll need to decide whether you will pursue or decline the waitlist invitation. Follow these tips:

• Quickly respond to let the school know whether you will accept or decline your position on the waitlist .

• If you accept,

  • • Send a follow-up email to let the school know why you would be excited to attend and the reasons why their college is still the best-fit school for you.

    • Keep up your senior year grades!

• If you decline, reevaluate the rest of your list. What schools do you need to learn more about? Which schools can you still visit?

If you applied Early Decision/Early Action, you may receive a notification that your application has been deferred to the regular admission pool. This can happen if a college decides they need more information (like senior year grades or test scores) before making their final decision. Here are some tips:

• Keep up your senior year grades!

• Submit new SAT/ACT scores.

• Submit an updated transcript of your senior year grades...aka Mid-Year Report/7th semester grades

• Keep in touch with the admissions office, and let them know that you would be excited to attend.

• Keep up your college search!

If you didn’t get the news you were hoping for, it’s okay and completely normal to feel disappointed. You did not get a rejection letter from a college because admissions officers didn’t like you. 

For some students, they may have not been offered admission because they were not academically ready to do well at the college. At highly selective colleges, only a small percentage of students are accepted while many of the students who apply are academically qualified.

Colleges only have a certain number of seats available for incoming students and most colleges receive many more applications than available seats. This means that admissions committees must consider many other factors while trying to build their “well-rounded” class.

But don't dwell too long! Follow these tips to find your best-fit college:

• Focus on the schools that accepted you!

• Stay positive and keep up your college search!