What’s Next? A Guide to Admissions Decisions

If you haven’t already, you will start to receive the decisions on your college applications. Depending on your decision, maybe you know what your next steps are, but it's also possible you have no idea what happens now. Our colleagues at Cornell University and the University of Notre Dame walked us through what you should know about being waitlisted, denied, or accepted. Here’s a breakdown!

Waitlisted

• When you receive your waitlist notification, you can choose to accept or decline a spot on your waitlist. You should only accept a spot on the waitlist if you would seriously consider going there if you were admitted. 

• Update the school with any new information, like current grades, any new awards or honors, or other information that has changed or been updated since you submitted your application. Some schools will ask you to submit this immediately; others will leave it to you to write that letter of continued interest.

• You can contact or visit the admissions office to express your continued interest, but don’t overdo it, either. As mentioned, keep your email or visit to new information only. Please remember that taking someone off the waitlist is a process that goes beyond just your enthusiasm. Colleges have to consider how many spots they have available, in what departments, as well as a host of other criteria.

• Get excited about the schools you were accepted to! Submit an enrollment deposit where you were admitted and begin to picture yourself on that campus.

• Some schools might not go to the waitlist at all; some might go “deep” into their waitlists. It depends on the year and on the college’s needs. Just know that you might be admitted off a waitlist as late as June or into the summer, which is not ideal!

Denied

• If you are denied, know that most schools do not have an appeals process. Their decisions are final. 

• Some schools might be willing to tell you why you were not admitted, so it doesn’t hurt to ask the admissions office. However, it’s most likely that a college will tell you that your application was simply not competitive enough. For many schools, especially highly selective ones, this is enough of an answer itself!

Accepted

• Submit your enrollment deposit to hold a spot in the class.

• Complete any housing applications, especially if you are an independent student with a family. You want ample time to figure out your living situation.

• If you are using your VA benefits, get in touch with the school certifying officer at that school to make sure you have all of your documentation submitted.

• If you have questions about your credits, reach out to the Academic Advising office to learn more about how your credits were evaluated.

• Stay on top of any forms that need to be completed, such as health records or other documents.

• Get excited!

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I’ve already deposited at a school, and then I’m admitted off the waitlist?

Unfortunately, enrollment deposits are usually non-refundable. You can choose to accept the spot at the school you were initially waitlisted at, but you will have to pay another enrollment deposit. It’s up to you to decide if that’s worth it. And, then, obviously, you should let the school you initially enrolled at know that you won’t be attending. That might prompt that school to go to their waitlist!

What if I can’t make up my mind about which institution to go to? Can I submit two enrollment deposits and decide later?

The practice of double depositing is frowned upon in higher education. By accepting two spots at two different institutions, you are taking away a seat from another deserving student. Additionally, an enrollment deposit is meant to signify your commitment to the school you’re choosing. If you can’t decide which school to attend, try to make use of admitted students programs such as open houses, student panels, and overnight visits to get to know each school better.

Check out our webinar where we sat down with admissions representatives from Cornell University and Notre Dame University to discuss these common admissions scenarios and address additional questions.