As temperatures drop, snow falls, and the fall semester comes to a close, many seniors around the country anxiously await the end of 1st semester. While much of that anxiety lies in the sheer number of exams to study for (good luck scholars!), many seniors are also anxious as they await a flurry of college decisions to be announced.
While a small handful of colleges will release their early action results sometime in January or February, we’re looking at you Michigan, most universities plan to release their Early Action and Early Decision results sometime in early to mid December before students go on break heading into the new year. And while these coming decisions will undoubtedly be the stars of the show in December, every year we continue to get asked the same question: What should I be doing as I await my decisions?
As tough as the waiting game can be, here are a few productive steps from the Galin College Counseling team you can take to take over the next few weeks.
First, and perhaps most important is to check up on your application status at all your early round colleges.
Once you submit your early round applications, in the next few weeks you will be receiving an email confirming receipt of your application that also invites you to log into your applicant portal. This portal is where you can track the status of your application, make sure all required materials have been received, receive an opportunity to interview, double check your FAFSA or CSS profile, and eventually be notified of your admission decision. Given this information, it is crucial that you log into these portals and keep track of any updates/information you receive throughout the rest of your application process. These applicant portals are often routed to your SPAM folder so, be sure to double check all areas of your email should you not receive them in the weeks following your submission and reach out to the undergraduate admissions office should you run into any issues.
Provide relevant updates to admission offices.
Often, as your senior year moves along you’ll only continue to grow in your accolades. This could be getting an A in your AP Calc class after usually struggling for a B in years past. It could be finally landing the lead role in your senior year showcase after spending years stuck as a supporting actor/actress. Or, it could be getting the long awaited update that your research is finally going to be published after spending many weeks refining and editing it. Regardless of your good news, often colleges will allow students to provide these updates via their application portals or by sending a quick update via email to your admissions officer. Updates such as these are good ways to not only boost your chances at admission but, continue to show your demonstrated interest at the colleges of your dreams!
Get in the right headspace.
Finally, it’s important to use this time for some much needed reflection on the college process as a whole. Reflect back on all the work it’s taken to get here and remember why you’ve devoted so much to this process. What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? Why did you apply to these universities? What type of college experience do you want? What do you want the rest of your senior year to be like?
While you engage in this period of reflection it’s important to hold onto one truth above all else, the decisions that come back from your colleges are not a reflection on you as an applicant, student, or even young adult. Each year colleges aim to enroll a diverse cohort of students amongst majors, hometowns, passions, and personalities. This means that there are more students who could have been admitted than students that were admitted, it’s often simply a game of numbers. So as you await your decisions prepare for some wins, losses, and decisions that may even possibly extend your application process. With these decisions we need you to remember one thing, you will end up where you are supposed to be and craft an amazing college experience once you set foot on campus. So, lean into the fun of your senior year!
