It’s supposed to be the jolliest time of year, but perhaps not for everyone. With college admissions being consistently more confusing, and acceptance rates continuing to plummet at some schools, the holidays can wind up being a season of bad news for some students. Perhaps they had their heart set on an Early Decision school, or really wanted to be admitted to another school. When the news isn’t great, it’s easy to spiral down into a sad, disappointment vortex. So here are some of our top reminders for students feeling the pain of college admissions decisions this time of year.
It’s admission decision season! Once upon a time, applicants were either accepted or denied to a college. Then came the waitlist. Now, students can hear one of many different “answers” from colleges, and it can be confusing. It can also make the final decision process more difficult. In this blog we will try to shed some light on these different college responses and point out the potential pros and cons of each one.
You’ve worked hard on your college list and applications. You researched schools, visited as many as possible and have even written your essays and submitted all, if not most, of your applications. But this time of year, the inevitable “What if?” can set in. Parents can succumb to it just as easily as students. “What if the ideal college is out there and we just haven’t found it?” “What if I don’t get accepted anywhere?” “What if we don’t get any financial aid?”
Seniors have, at this point, sent in applications to many, if not all, of their colleges. They may have applied Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling or Regular Decision and are awaiting the news to come back. However, if there is new good news to share with their colleges, there is a smart way to do so. It could perhaps tip the scales in their favor.
You’ve been patiently waiting for that first envelope, but when it comes, it’s not the ACCEPT you’ve been hoping for. A rejection is one thing: at least then you have a definitive answer and can move on. But, what if you hear: “You’ve been waitlisted,” or “Your Early Action application has been deferred to our regular admission pool”? These responses from colleges can be confusing to students and parents, but Campus Bound is here to help. Below are some tips and the steps you can take to increase your chances when your application is reviewed a second time around.