This was a historically competitive early application cycle, so we know that not every student got the decision they wanted - if you were deferred or denied from your early decision school, read our post from two weeks ago for next steps.
That being said, we are very proud that SO MANY of our students were admitted to their first choice schools! If you received the early decision acceptance you were hoping for, you may be busy celebrating and sharing the news, but the work isn’t over just yet. Read on for your next steps after receiving that ED acceptance!
1. Accept the Offer
This would seem to go without saying, but it is important to officially accept the offer and pay your deposit to the school. This process will look a little different for each school, but can usually be completed through your applicant portal. Make sure you take the time to re-read the decision letter carefully and make sure you are following any instructions from the school about how to confirm your acceptance. Your deposit officially holds your place in the class, so make sure to do this soon!
2. Withdraw Other Applications
We get it - we also want to see whether our students were admitted anywhere else! But after an ED commitment, it is important that you let other schools know that you will be attending college elsewhere. Many schools will allow you to do this through your applicant portal - you just click to withdraw or cancel your application and usually fill out a short form or comment box. For those that don’t, you will need to send an email. You can send this email to the school’s main admissions address (found on their website). Here is an example:
3. Contact Your Counselor and Recommenders
If you have not already, let your school counselor know your decision. Then, make sure that you also let anyone who wrote you a letter of recommendation know that you were admitted. They have been rooting for you! This is a great time to write a thank-you note or email thanking them for their help and including your big news.
4. Keep Up Your Grades
With the acceptance letter in hand, it is tempting to sit back and coast through the rest of senior year. But remember, your acceptance is contingent on you keeping up your academic performance! While it is okay if your grades slip a bit in one or two classes, a big drop or a drop in every class is reason for the school to be concerned, and you absolutely don’t want to end up in a difficult situation due to your senior year grades.
5. Check Your Email
IThe school you’ve committed to is likely to continue to communicate with you by email throughout the spring. Make sure you are checking regularly for information about housing, orientation, course registration, and any other important deadlines. You may also join an admitted student group on social media to get to know other students who will be attending.
6. Celebrate!
While it is important to do everything on this list, don’t forget to take some time to celebrate, share your news, and buy a school sweatshirt. You did it! Take a deep breath and get excited for the next four years!