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Waiting Period

 

Once you've submitted a college admission application, all that hard work may seem simple compared to waiting to hear from the school. Be patient – you want your school to take the time it needs to decide on its students.

Soon you'll receive acceptance, denial and/or wait-list letters.

Acceptance

Congratulations! Be sure to list the schools where you have been accepted on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you haven't submitted it yet.

• Compare financial aid packages carefully. Consider the amount and types of aid, the overall cost of education at each school, your goals and your ability to pay. Remember that you'll need to pay for more than one year!
• After deciding on a school, send in any needed paperwork before the deadlines.
• Contact other schools you applied to immediately to let them know you aren't coming.

Denial

This can happen for different reasons:

• The maximum number of students has already been admitted.
• You have unmet qualifications like a minimum GPA or test score.
• Your essay or letters of recommendation didn't make the cut.
• You missed the deadline.

If you're denied, remember:

• Applying to multiple schools ensures you have options in case of denial.
• Wait to hear from the other schools you applied to.
• If you're accepted by your other schools, review their remaining deadlines and move forward with their process.

Wait-List

If you meet admission requirements, but the school or the program has already accepted the maximum number of new students, you can be wait-listed.

• Get the details. Before you decide anything, contact the school and:
  • Find out if you're missing out on financial aid, housing options or other elements by being wait-listed.
  • Ask whether wait-listed students are ranked or given priority. Most schools will tell you your status on such a list.
• Try harder. Remember, you're already qualified to attend. Now's the time to show any extra initiative that might give you an edge.
  • Write a letter demonstrating any new involvements or any information not included in your original application.
  • Request an interview. Even if you've already had one, you can use a new one to demonstrate your renewed commitment to the school.
• Make a plan. If you do get moved off the wait-list, you will have only a short time to make a decision on whether to attend.
  1. Look at other schools who have accepted you. Would one of them be just as good?
  2. Prepare admission forms for other schools as a back-up plan.