After months of narrowing your college list, soliciting recommendation letters, taking tests, and writing essays upon essays, it can feel bizarre to finally get to the point of hitting submit. What comes next?
First things first, take a break! It’s important to celebrate what you’ve accomplished by applying Early. Put your laptop down and do something non-academic that makes you happy — read a good book, have a movie marathon, plan a weekend getaway.
Once you’ve taken a moment to relax, it’s time to refocus on these 5 next steps:
Continue to work hard in your classes
Colleges will typically ask for a mid-year grade report and a final grade report to ensure you’re maintaining the academic standards shown in your application. Some colleges will even rescind an offer of admission if your grades drop significantly during your senior year.
Check your applicant portals regularly
Most colleges will email you within a few days of your application submission to provide the login information for their applicant portal. Ensure that you check your applicant portal for each college at least once per week — this helps you catch any updates or missing documents quickly. Plus, colleges that track demonstrated interest may look to see how often you log into the portal when reviewing your application.
Schedule and prepare for interviews
Many top colleges and universities offer the opportunity to interview as part of your application process. Before scheduling anything, consult with your Advisor to determine if an interview would be additive to your application. If so, schedule one and practice with your Advisor to ensure you put your best foot forward.
Protect your online presence
A 2020 survey found that 36% of admission officers visit applicants’ social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as a way to learn more about them. Don’t let a questionable post or comment affect your admission chances — make your social media accounts private.
Prepare your Regular Decision (and Early Decision II) applications
While you hope to receive exciting news in December, it’s important to prepare now for the possibility of not being admitted to your early school(s). Finish your essays and complete the application forms for the rest of your schools so that if you need them later, all you’ll need to do is hit submit.
Remember: Some colleges have Regular Decision deadlines that fall before Early decisions are released — for example, University of Washington (Nov. 16), University of California (Nov. 30), and University of Southern California (Dec. 1). You’ll need to submit these applications before you hear back from your Early colleges.
More than anything though, remember to celebrate —you’ve made it past the Early application round! Take a break, enjoy the holidays, and continue to consult with your College Advisor as you wrap up this phase of the application process and prepare for the next one.