What to expect while waiting for admission decisions

No doubt you have worked hard to complete your requests and they are finally being submitted! Now what? Over the next few weeks, she may be feeling the anxiety of the notorious college waiting game as nerves build and decision time approaches.

Have the universities received my application? Universities usually send an email to confirm that they have received your application. If you do not receive a response in about a week, please contact the admissions office to confirm that they have received your materials. Each university has its unique admission requirements. So please check and make sure you have followed all the instructions. If your application is incomplete, this could delay your review and decision.

How can I check the status of my application? How often should I review it? There are application status links on most college websites. Use the same login information you used for your application and you should be able to access the university websites. Receipts for transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores are sometimes found on these status pages, so feel free to check them as often as you’d like.

What should I do while I wait? This is a good time to notify universities of changes or additions to your files. You have moved? Changed schools? Improved grades? Did you win any additional prizes that are not listed on your application? Did you participate in additional and/or relevant activities? Also, you could do additional research on the colleges on your list so that you can make an informed decision when the time comes.

How are admission decisions made? It’s hard to be sure why a particular applicant wins acceptance, as there are so many variables that go into the decision-making process. Some colleges divide applications by geographic region, and regional representatives review those applications. Other colleges may have multiple admissions committees that make the final decisions. In addition to your transcripts, essays, recommendations, completed applications, test scores (when necessary), and anything else you’ve researched, your high school will send you a high school profile. This is information about the curriculum offerings at your high school and perhaps your college acceptance history.

When will I find out? If you requested an early decision, you should be notified by December 15. If you applied to universities where there is rolling admission, it can generally take six to eight weeks for a decision. Regular admission deadlines are around the 1st of each year and those decisions are revealed in March and April. You can get more specific information by visiting the websites of the universities.

When should I worry if I haven’t heard from a university? Do not wait more than three weeks to contact universities if you have not received a confirmation. If you have not received a response, please call or email the admissions office to check your status. You can also check the application status link on their websites.

Can I find my admission decision online? Most colleges submit their decisions electronically through the application status link and follow up with a letter.

What if I am accepted to one of the most likely schools on my list before hearing from one of my top choices? You usually have weeks before you need to respond to a college with your decision to attend or not. Don’t reply right away. This is a great decision! Give yourself and your family time to receive all your acceptances so you can make the best decision. Have faith that you have completed the best applications possible and now it is out of your hands.

Best of luck!