Seniors, What To Do Next If …

By Liz Jackson

As seniors begin to receive their admissions decisions from colleges and universities, it can sometimes be hard to know what to do next. Keep reading for helpful tips on how to proceed no matter what situation you may find yourself in.

1) You Were Admitted.

• Celebrate your achievement! You’ve worked hard to get here.
• Review your acceptance materials and check deadlines for things like enrollment deposit, housing, orientation dates, etc.
• Compare your options. Revisit your college list and weigh any financial aid offers, fit, and other priorities, as you continue to receive decisions from your colleges.
• Visit (or revisit) the campus. Attend admitted student events in the spring, or take a final tour if undecided.
• Thank your supporters. Show gratitude to those who helped (teachers, counselors, family).
• If you decide to accept their decision, submit your enrollment deposit, inform your other schools, and withdraw any applications to colleges you know you will not attend.

2) You Were Admitted Early Decision.

• Celebrate your accomplishment! This is a big milestone.
• Commit to the school by submitting your enrollment deposit and completing any forms.
• Withdraw all other applications. Notify other colleges promptly by sending an email to those schools’ admissions offices. The message can simply say, “Thank you for considering my application, but I have decided to attend another university.” **NOTE: If you applied for financial aid, you may want to wait until you receive your financial aid award before withdrawing other applications. The only way a student can be released from an early decision agreement is if the financial aid package is not sufficient.**
• Finalize financial details. Confirm your financial aid package and make arrangements.
• Stay strong academically. Your admission is conditional on completing senior year successfully.
• Plan for next steps. Watch for orientation details and housing deadlines, and mark your calendars.

3) You Were Deferred or Waitlisted.

• Understand your status by reviewing the college’s communication for next steps.
• Send updated grades. Talk to your counselor and request that your mid-year transcript gets sent to any schools where you were deferred.
• Reaffirm your commitment. Write a letter of continued interest (unless a college indicates that they do not want additional materials) that shares updates about significant achievements or awards since your application.
• Talk to your counselor. They can advocate for you or provide guidance.
• Keep your grades up. Your performance matters!
• Have a backup plan. Be ready to commit to another school if waitlist or deferred options don’t work out.

4) You Were Denied.

• Acknowledge your feelings. It’s okay to be disappointed, angry, jealous, etc.—talk to someone if needed and give yourself some time to just feel … bad.
• Trust your list. Remember, you built a thoughtful and balanced list with a range of options. Trust that your effort will lead to a great fit later in the process.
• Check in with your counselor. They can provide support and help you evaluate your options.
• Redirect your focus. Celebrate acceptances from other schools.
• Remember that being denied admission at a college isn’t personal. It doesn’t mean that you are not worthy of a great college education at a place that is a great fit for you. The wonderful things about you are still wonderful, and you will have every opportunity to succeed at the colleges that saw your potential on their campuses.

About Liz Jackson

Liz Jackson serves as the director of College Guidance at University School of Milwaukee. She has more than 15 years of experience helping students and families find the right college. With experience in counseling, higher education research, and school leadership, Liz enjoys getting to know students and matching their interests to the unique offerings of each college.