Getting a college acceptance is wonderful — but important decisions and deadlines follow immediately. Here's your step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Compare Financial Aid Packages (February–April)
If you have multiple acceptances, comparing financial aid packages is your most important task before making a final decision. Don't just compare 'aid' numbers — compare net cost (what your family actually pays after all grants and scholarships, before loans). Financial aid letters can be confusing, so take time to understand exactly what's a grant (free money you don't repay) vs. a loan (money you repay with interest) vs. work-study (money earned through a campus job).
Step 2: Appeal Financial Aid if Needed
If your top-choice school's aid package is significantly less generous than what another comparable school offered, contact the financial aid office and request reconsideration — especially if competing offers exist from peer institutions. Many schools will work with you.
Step 3: Attend Admitted Students Days
Many colleges host 'Admitted Students Days' in April for accepted students to visit campus, meet professors and current students, and get a real feel for campus culture. These visits are different from pre-application tours — they're more immersive and give you a much better sense of whether you'll fit in.
Step 4: Make Your Final Decision
National Candidate Reply Date is May 1 — the universal deadline to submit your enrollment deposit. You can wait until May 1 to decide, comparing all your acceptances and aid packages. Don't let any school pressure you to decide before May 1.
Step 5: Submit Your Enrollment Deposit
Enrollment deposits are typically $200–$500 and are non-refundable. Once you deposit at one school, withdraw from all waitlists and accepted schools (as a courtesy and ethical obligation in the admissions community).