Managing College Admissions Decisions

Spring is the homestretch of the college admissions process. Decisions are coming out and most students will hear from all of the colleges they applied to by the beginning to middle of April. Here are some strategies for managing admissions decisions.

1. Students should decide how they want to hear their admissions decisions.

Because seniors are about to embark on their college experience, it is important that they have agency in how they find out the results of their applications. Some students like to be filmed opening the email or checking the school portal to have a memento of the experience. Others want to find out about their admissions decisions by themselves in the privacy of their rooms. There is no correct way to do this and students should choose this for themselves.

2. Celebrate all acceptances.

Students have worked hard for this outcome and should be congratulated and celebrated for each acceptance. If a student has crafted a thoughtful list, then any acceptance is a cause for celebration because the school should be a good fit. While celebrating, be mindful of friends who may still be waiting on decisions or may be dealing with denials.

3. Don’t take denials personally.

It is understandable to be disappointed. Students should take time to process their feelings. This is not a reflection on the student as a person. Different colleges have different institutional objectives and an individual student may not fit into those objectives at this time. 

4. What should a student do about being waitlisted?

Waitlists are anticipated to be longer than ever this year, and there is no guarantee a particular school will go to their waitlist. Before making a decision about whether to stay on a waitlist, students should wait to receive all of their college decisions. Many students are admitted to a college that they are excited about and want to commit to and do not choose to stay on any waitlists. Others get waitlisted at a college that they are still interested in and decide to keep their place on the list. If a student wants to stay on a waitlist, they should follow the process outlined by the college and send any additional information that may help their chances of being admitted. This information includes any updates to grades, awards they may have received, or other information relevant to their application. The student should also put a deposit down at a college where they have been accepted.

5. Learn about the college or colleges that have admitted you.

Whether a student is admitted to one or more than one college, now is the time to learn all you can about the school. Try to find current students to talk to who have lived on campus and experienced different aspects of the school. If you do not know any current students, the college admissions office should be able to put you in touch with someone. You generally will have a few weeks to decide which college to attend so use the time wisely.

Remember that being accepted to college is a starting point not an end in itself. Once students have heard their college decisions, it is their time to make choices. After the final choice is made, buy a college t-shirt and enjoy the rest of your senior year of high school. You have earned it!

If you have questions about specific colleges, please email karen@excelsioradmissionsconsulting.com or click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.www.excelsiorcollegeconsulting.com