Congratulations on your college acceptances! This was a very challenging admissions cycle, with applications significantly up at many institutions. Give yourself credit for all the hard work you have put in throughout high school, and start getting excited about the schools that really want you to join their community.
If you applied to reach or ultra-selective schools, you likely have received some disappointing news in addition to offers of admission. Colleges select applicants not based solely on students’ achievements but also based on the colleges’ institutional objectives and subjective criteria that we cannot predict. Remember that there is not just one great school for you where you can be successful. There are many, and the path to success is paved in many directions, not just a few.
As you are deciding between your options, don’t let emotions take over your decision-making. Instead, try to objectively judge how well each college meets the needs and goals you initially established when making your college list. If you put together a good-fit college list, the cost (over four years) might be a driving factor in your decision-making at this point. Make sure to ask your colleges for the average tuition increase per year, as most colleges increase tuition. Here is a free cost comparison worksheet from Edmit.
May 1st has traditionally been Decision Day, the final day to submit an enrollment deposit, letting a college know your decision to accept their offers (of admission, scholarships, and special programs), but some colleges may give you a later deadline. It is critical to know your colleges’ enrollment deadlines and deposit policies. Some colleges require an enrollment deposit before you can apply for housing; housing deposits may or may not be refundable. Read each of your colleges’ “admitted student checklist” with your parent(s) and contact colleges if you have any questions.
Take advantage of Admitted Student Day events, especially if you are mourning a denial from another school. Seeing firsthand where you can learn and grow is the best way to move on from disappointment. If you can’t visit in person, the next best thing is to attend the Virtual Admitted Student Day events hosted by your colleges. Both versions help you talk to current students and engage with professors and department staff so you can learn more about your academic interests as well as social life on campus. Here is a great article about one student’s realization that their safety school was actually their dream school.
Suppose you know where you want to enroll. In that case, it can often be beneficial to commit and submit your deposit before the deadline, as many colleges have a priority housing process that starts earlier. Every school has different housing deadlines, admission deposit steps, and class registration procedures. Again, you need to read all of the communication you receive from your colleges and follow their suggested steps.
While you might be able to submit multiple housing deposits to different colleges to hold your place in the housing line (i.e. if a college does not require you to submit an enrollment deposit prior to submitting a non-refundable housing deposit), it is not ethical to submit more than one enrollment deposit. In fact, students who submitted their applications via the Common App signed that they agreed that the only exception to this is if they are offered a spot off of a waitlist. Additionally, your high school counselor is encouraged to only submit your final transcript to one college. Please read more on why you should not double deposit here.
Read on for how to accept an offer of admission and why it’s important to notify the colleges you won’t be attending of your decision. And, remember, you are now in the driver’s seat. All of the colleges that admitted you really want you to come to campus. Take time to compare your offers, then buy all your college swag and celebrate!
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