Early Decision Notifications...Advent to decision making
Early Decision notifications will begin rolling out first week of December and will continue through the 3rd week December depending on a particular University and their admission timeline. The best advice during this waiting time is to be prepared and READ every email completely and follow directions.
Being prepared and staying positive is the mental and emotional side of the journey and the best way to avert anxiety and negative narratives is to focus on what you know to be true.
Truths:
Holistic admission is unpredictable. Chances are your ED application was to a school that has a selectivity index of less than 20% or even lower. Here is how to prepare for each possible decision. Best of Luck to you!
Accepted: you have a reason to celebrate and need to prepare a humble statement of gratitude and excitement on social media. After a brief celebration, it is now your responsibility to follow directions and meet deposit deadlines. You are now an admitted student, and you need to invest some time in meeting other students in chat sessions and other informational sessions. “The more you know…”
Waitlisted: the admissions office finished your review and placed you literally on a wait list until their admission cycle closes and their yield has been met. However, you are not in a holding pattern and have control of your next move. Data and trends will provide you with insight into the college's pattern of behavior with waitlisted students. Most importantly, move forward...no coulda, woulda, shoulda’s or no begging.
Deferred: unique in that the college has not completed your review and they are pausing your decision until the next round of admissions decisions (a later date.) If you are moved to a regular decision from ED, then restrictions have been removed and you are free to consider other offers as you continue your pursuit to your ED school. Previously said the college is not finished with your review so they will accept and request updates to your application file such as senior grades. Again, most importantly you are in control and will be responsible for following up with updates if your heart is set on this school.
Denied: this is not failure and living in the past will not serve you well. The admissions office determined that for whatever reason you were not a good fit for their incoming class. I like to say you have been redirected to another school that is going to be your match. Things happen for a reason...trust me I have a ton of examples of students who did not get accepted to their dream school and returned a year later extremely happy and satisfied with where they chose to attend.
You have plenty of options and strategies still available to you after December. There are plenty of quality schools that have deadlines in January or February 1...and your Common Application is complete, and schools can be easily added.
My takeaway for students is that I want them to know that they are in the driver’s seat...take ownership of their intellectual property and search for the best opportunity to transform their learning into a career and passion that they will be proud of.
Denial, Waitlist, Deferment is...REDIRECTION...for a reason.
