DECISIONS, DECISIONS: What to do when the waiting game is over
Accepted? Waitlisted? Denied? Haven’t Heard?
What are your next steps?
“I haven’t heard yet, but many of my friends have…..”
It’s been an unprecedented two years in college applications with many factors affecting admissions decision timelines. The rise in application submissions due to schools being test-optional has increased competitiveness and the time it takes to read applications. Also, due to Covid fears, more students are either applying closer to home to their in-state schools or transferring back to in-state schools from out of state. Finally, the factors helping admissions offices make predictions no longer hold weight as this Wall Street Journal Article from last Spring explains so well.
What to do:
Rolling Decision schools tend to send decisions in waves, whereas ED, EA, and Regular Decision schools usually have published notification dates. Ask your guidance counselor at your high school and check the college’s website as to notification dates.
If you still feel you should have been notified after doing #1, call or email your admissions rep to determine the status of your application. Just make sure to have your student ID at the ready.
Some colleges accept updates and may also request mid-year reports from your counselor. Keep checking the portal and your email for messages. You should receive information from the college as to whether they require or accept updates.
“I got waitlisted….now what?”
What to do:
No matter what, you will have to accept or decline being on the waitlist. Make sure to let the school know your preference right away.
Continue applying to your other colleges since you will need to accept an offer usually by May 1. It is very hard to predict whether you will come off a waitlist.
If you accept the waitlist status, determine what the college is specifically seeking from you or if they do not want additional information. Examples of additional information might include
updates of grades
recommendations
SAT/ACT scores
letter of continued interest
Visit the college if you have not done so already. This might help to show demonstrated interest or help you re-evaluate whether the school is really the place for you.
“I got accepted to my first choice!”
Congratulations!
What to do:
Do I have notify the college immediately with my decision? Most colleges give you until May 1 to accept their offer and send in the deposit, so make sure this is truly the school for you. Take your time. Visit or revisit the school.
Can I afford it? Read and fully understand your financial offer to determine what you will be expected to pay before accepting an offer. These offers usually come within 2 weeks of your admissions decision so continue checking your emails and portals! It is a good idea to see what other financial offers you receive when admitted to other colleges as you may be able to negotiate the financial award offered to you.
You may want to make your housing deposit as soon as possible if you have not done so already. Do not wait until you have sent in your acceptance as housing options may be “first-come, first-serve.” You may or may not get a deposit back, so make sure you know the policies.
Write thank you notes to teachers and advisors letting them know the good news!
“I got denied from my first choice school.”
Can you accept this decision? It may be difficult to trust an admissions decision as they are based on so many factors, most of which are hard to know.
What to do:
Should I appeal the decision? If you feel that admissions may have missed something and that you are truly a competitive applicant and great match for the school, you may be able to pursue an appeal. Each college will have instructions as to their rules and procedures for appeals, so check the websites or email the college reps as to your next steps.
Try to move on, knowing that this is not personal. As my mother used to say, “It just isn’t meant to be.” It could be time to explore your other options…..
Please contact me for advice and guidance if you have further questions on how to proceed with your admissions decision!