Now What? What to Expect After You Submit College Applications
The college application journey is a marathon, and hitting that "submit" button feels like crossing the finish line. 🏁 But for many high schoolers, the period that follows can feel like an endless waiting game filled with anxiety.
The truth is, the race isn't quite over. As parents and guardians, this is a crucial time to help your teen navigate the waiting period and stay proactive. Here’s a practical guide on what happens next.
1. The Admissions Office Review
Once your student's application is submitted, it enters a structured review process.
- Initial Triage: An admissions office staff member first checks to ensure the application is complete. This is why it's so important for your student to monitor their applicant portals! 💻 A missing transcript or recommendation letter can stall the entire process.
- The Reading: Applications are then read and evaluated by one or more admissions officers. They're looking beyond the numbers (GPA, test scores) to assess the student's personal story, character, and potential contribution to the campus community.
- Committee Review: For many selective schools, top applications move on to a committee. This is where a group of admissions officers discuss the student's file and make a final decision together.
2. The Waiting Game & What to Do
The period between submitting an application and receiving a decision is known as "The Long Wait." Help your teen manage this by focusing on what they can control.
- Financial Aid: Even if you've already filled out the FAFSA or CSS Profile, it's not a "one and done" situation. Use this time to check the status of your financial aid forms on each college's portal and ensure no additional documents are needed. Keep an eye out for any communication from the financial aid office.
- Senior Year Grades: This is arguably the most important "next step." Many colleges require mid-year reports and will rescind an offer of admission if a student’s grades significantly drop. Remind your teen that a strong senior year performance is the best way to demonstrate their readiness for college-level work.
- Stay Involved and Engaged: Encourage your student to stay connected with the colleges on their list. This can be as simple as opening emails from the school, attending virtual information sessions, or following their social media accounts. This shows demonstrated interest, which can sometimes play a role in admissions decisions.
- The Follow-up: If your student has a significant new accomplishment—like a major award, a new leadership role, or an improved test score—they can send a brief update to the admissions office. But, a word of caution: make sure the update is truly substantive and follow the college's specific instructions for submitting new information.
3. Decisions & Next Steps
Decisions can come in three main forms: accepted, denied, or waitlisted/deferred. It’s important to prepare your teen for any outcome.
- Acceptance: Celebrate the win! Then, use the acceptance to compare financial aid offers and plan for any admitted student events or "second look" visits.
- Waitlisted/Deferred: This means the college is still interested but wants to see how the rest of the application pool shakes out. If this happens, your student can write a Letter of Continued Interest to reaffirm their desire to attend and provide any new updates.
- Denial: A denial can be tough, but remind your teen that it doesn't define their worth or future. The college application process is competitive, and a "no" from one school often leads to a "yes" from another that might be an even better fit.
The time after applications are submitted can be stressful, but by focusing on these key steps, you and your teen can take charge of the process and feel more in control.
What other questions do you have about the post-application process? Share them in the comments, and let's help each other out!