Things To Do After Receiving Your College Acceptances
Last Updated on April 9, 2023 by Jill Schwitzgebel
FINALLY! The college acceptances have begun to roll in! So the work is over, right? Wrong! Here’s what to do after you get accepted to college. New deadlines and decisions are ahead.
The NEW List of Things to Do After the Official Acceptance:
Visit the School. If you have not visited the college yet, now is definitely the time. Many colleges will also host Accepted Student Days or Weekends. Go ahead and sign up to attend, especially if you are still trying to choose between different schools.
Compare Financial Awards. This could make your decision much easier if there are two schools you like equally – go with the cheaper one! But what happens if you find yourself leaning toward the more expensive option? It doesn’t hurt to call the school’s financial aid office and tell them that you would like to attend, but another school gave a better offer. Occasionally, they’ll increase THEIR offer.
Consider a Housing Deposit. Not all colleges guarantee housing to incoming freshman. Other schools will designate housing based on when they receive the housing deposit. Some schools will assign dates to sign up for housing based on when they get the deposit. In these cases, even if you are not totally certain that you will be attending that school, it might be worth it to pay the housing deposit right after you’re accepted. Otherwise, you risk either not getting housing, or not getting the housing you would prefer.
Read the fine print, but at most schools, that deposit will be nonrefundable. So, it will be up to you to decide whether you are okay with the potential loss of that money. There is no right or wrong answer…you will just have to weigh pros and cons.
Not all schools put you in that situation. If you’re lucky enough that your school does not assign housing for all students until a certain date, then just be sure to pay attention to the deadline to pay the housing deposit. Don’t miss it!
Things to Complete After You Have Made Your Final Decision:
Send the Confirmation. When you received your acceptance, the college likely gave instructions as to how to accept their offer. Likely there is some kind of Statement of Intent to attend that must be returned to the school, possibly in the school’s online portal. Don’t forget this important step!
Notify Other Colleges. Contact the schools you will not be attending and let them know. Often, there is a button in your application portal that you just need to click to let the college know or sometimes, there is a form in your acceptance packet that you can use to do that. It’s the courteous thing to do. Remember, there are likely kids on the waitlist that would love the chance to attend, so give them the opportunity.
Don’t Give in to Senioritis. Just because you got the acceptance letter, it does not mean you can slack off in school. Remember, schools can revoke their offers of acceptance after seeing final transcripts. And if you’re taking Advanced Placement classes, those tests are still coming up in May and can save you money if you pass, so keep studying!
Set Up Your Student Account. Sometimes, you have already done this back when you applied to the school. If not, you likely got directions for setting it up in your acceptance packet. Don’t delay logging on to this portal. As mentioned above, it may be the way you accept their offer of admission! Beyond that, this will often be the way that the school communicates important dates, deadlines, and procedures to you. Get used to checking it regularly.
Sign up for Orientation. This is when you will register for your classes. You may also be given placement tests while you’re there. At some schools, you will need to have taken placement tests online PRIOR to Orientation – another thing to pay attention to! While you’re at orientation, the school will have sessions for you, as well as for your parents, to introduce you to the college and its procedures and events.
Request Your Dorm/Roommate. All schools do this differently. Just pay attention to directions, deadlines and dates.
Student Health Paperwork. Usually, you will need to have this completed to bring with you to turn in at Orientation. Colleges will want your immunization records and a physical form completed. Usually, they will ask for you to have completed a tuberculosis test too.
Was your student put on a college waitlist and left in limbo? Here’s what you need to know!
Did your student apply Early Decision? Your process might be slightly different! After the College Early Admission Result: What Next?
Parents, are you considering joining the college parents group? Here’s what you should know first!
