For applicants to US undergraduate programs, the early round of college admissions decisions are upon us. It is a time of year that brings big expectations and emotions. Here is a guide to what to expect.
Which decisions are coming out?
The "early round" includes two main application policies Early Action and Early Decision.
If you applied Early Action, which is a non-binding policy in which the university offered an early deadline so that you may learn of your admission decision usually before Christmas.
If you applied Early Decision you submitted your application before an early deadline, but entered into an agreement that you are admitted you will enroll.
Most Early Action and Early Decision deadlines were between Oct 15 and Nov 15.
You may have also applied to a university that practices rolling admission, and may be receiving an admission decision as your application was processed in the last few weeks.
How do I receive admissions decisions?
You will receive an email from the university saying that there is an update on your applicant portal.
Access the portal to learn your decision.
What do I do if I am admitted?
Celebrate!!
Be sensitive to those around you who are also navigating their admissions decisions.
Look for further instructions.
What if I am admitted to my Early Decision choice?
Follow directions from the university for ED admitted students.
Withdraw all other applications that you have submitted, including to any EA options that have admitted you.
Any offers of financial aid are usually communicated together with the offer of admission, or within a few days.
Breathe, the application process is done!
What do I do if I am admitted to an Early Action choice?
With your admission decision, you might receive instructions for how to make a deposit to secure your spot in the class. Know that since you have been admitted, you do not have to accept the offer right now. The offer is valid until decision day which is May 1.
You are free to receive offers of admission from other universities via EA and rolling admission, and you can continue to apply to universities in the Regular Decision rounds.
You might receive communications about merit scholarships and/or financial aid together with your offer of admissions, or the awards might be communicated later via email and through your portal.
Follow instructions for admitted students, and participate in admitted student programming to get to know the university even better so that you have all the information you need to make the final decision of where to enroll before May 1.
What if I am admitted to a Rolling Admission choice?
You can treat this offer of admission together with the EA decisions: celebrate, participate in admitted students activities, get to know the university, but understand you don't need to make any decisions about enrolling or not until May 1.
What do I do if I am not admitted?
Take the time you need to feel your feelings.
Recognize the hard work you put into your application. Honor the fact that you did your best.
Recognize that there are so many factors in admissions that you do not control. You can't control the range of priorities that a university faces year to year, such as needing to admit a bassoonist, or enough art history majors.
Do not take the denial personally and avoid comparing your outcome with those of others. Everyone's admission journey is unique.
Get involved in activities you love, and spend time with family and friends.
Stay away from social media.
When you’re ready, move on to better things.
What do I do if I am deferred?
Deferral means your application was not considered as an admit in the early round, but it will be reviewed again in the regular round. It is neither a no, nor a yes.
If you were deferred from an ED choice, you no longer have an ED commitment to them. You're free to apply to other schools.
On the portal, you might be asked to confirm your continued interest in admission. If yes, then indicate so. There might be a form or a button on the portal, or you might send an email to the admissions office stating your continued interest.
Follow the specific directions in the deferral letter or on the portal.
You might be asked to update your application file with new information such as your latest grade report, and news of activities and awards that didn’t make it into your original application.
Some deferral instructions might include an invitation to interview or send a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor.
Pay attention to due dates for sending updates.
Each university handles deferrals differently, so follow the specific instructions.
My closing words for all applicants is this: you are brave and applying to college is hard. But the things that are worth doing are usually hard. The holistic admission process asks you to open up and tell your authentic story, which requires you to be vulnerable. Your application might feel like a part of you sitting out there being judged. However, your application is a snapshot - collection of artifacts from your academic and extracurricular life on or around November 1. It is not the you that keeps going.
Regardless of the outcome of this process, you have learned to tell your story, learned to be vulnerable and true, and survived. You will do this again and again, professionally, creatively, and personally, and now you are more equipped to face all the experiences life is cooking up for you.
If you have advice or would like to share how you've navigated admissions decisions, please leave a comment.
If you are expecting December decisions, and would like help understanding you options and next steps, reach out to schedule a strategy meeting.
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