Now that Apps are Done

CHECK YOUR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PORTALS REGULARLY

• Ensure that each college received all necessary material. Resolve issues quickly.

• Keep an eye out for emails from any college.

SENDING MID-YEAR TRANSCRIPTS

• If any of your colleges require mid-year transcripts (1st semester Senior grades), follow these procedures carefully.

• In the spring you will send your End-of-Year (final) transcripts to the college you will be attending.

IF YOU ARE DEFERRED:

• If you applied early and were "deferred", determine if you are required to submit your first semester transcript. If so, do that promptly. Read this important article for more on deferrals.

IF YOU ARE WAITLISTED

• As accepted students notify colleges they won’t be attending, those spots are given to students on the “waitlist”.

• Express your continued interest & confirm your waitlist status.

• Update the school if any grades or test scores have improved. (This doesn’t apply to UC’s.)

• You may not learn more about your status until July or later.

• Because your chances of being accepted are not predictable, you need to make other plans:

  • Review the colleges that accepted your application.

  • Come up with a second choice that you are happy with.

  • Make a decision on or before Decision Day, and follow necessary steps including submitting your Intent to Register.

GOING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

• Please enter that college under the Naviance "Colleges I'm apply to" list.

SECOND SEMESTER GRADES:

• College acceptances can be rescinded if grades fall significantly. Try to keep your grades consistent with the grades in which you were accepted.

UPDATE NAVIANCE:

• If you submitted applications, change the status to "submitted application". Update the status for any college that you've been accepted, waitlisted, or denied.

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS

• Complete and submit the FAFSA or CADAA forms if they were not required at application time.

• If you receive any financial award letters, be sure to pay attention to all the information, especially deadlines. Some schools require you to commit by a certain deadline in order to receive the aid. Missing this deadline means losing money.

• Continue your search for scholarships. Check for scholarship opportunities.

• Watch deadlines!

SEND THANK-YOU NOTES

• Be sure to thank anyone who wrote a Letter of Recommendation for you

IF YOU GET ACCEPTED

• Decisions: You usually have until May 1^st to make most decisions. Use the time to weigh your options. Some schools offer priority housing if you commit earlier.

• Negotiate your Financial Aid package: Sometimes you can negotiate with a school for more financial aid and it is worth asking!

PLAN A COLLEGE VISIT

• Even if you’ve already visited a college once, you can still gain good insight from another visit. If you spent your first visit in the classroom, use your second trip to check out student hang-outs, the city around the school, or other items of interest.

HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE?

• It’s all about the right fit for YOU. Do you want: small/medium/large campus; sports-focused; big Greek life; out-of-state/in-state; sense of community; most affordable? List the aspects that are important to you and compare results.

ONCE YOU’VE DECIDED

• Send in required forms sent by the college.

• Send AP exams scores

• Send tuition and housing deposits.

• Notify other colleges that you have been accepted to, that you will not be attending. They will give your spot to someone else.

• Update Naviance with your decision: under “Colleges I’m Applying To” > > “Results”

• Join your college’s social media to start meeting other accepted students.

• Continue to check the online portal and email for any additional correspondence. Respond quickly.

Remember to seek help and Visit the College & Career Center if you need help navigating the process!