Making the Final Decision
Congratulations! Hopefully, if you have made wise decisions about where to apply, you must now decide which college's offer of admission to accept. Look carefully and see which college is truly the best fit for you. Which college offers the educational and social experiences you are looking for? Talk with your parents, teachers, and counselors. If possible, also talk with current students about their experiences. Visit several of the schools again if possible. Many schools have admitted student days on campus where you can stay overnight with current students and participate in on-campus activities.
You must notify the college you plan to attend in writing by May 1, the national reply date. Most schools provide forms that you simply fill out. Read all of the information provided by the college and include a deposit with your notification letter. DO NOT accept admission to more than one school. You risk having your admission revoked at either institution.
Please also notify the schools you will not be attending. This will help them decide if they will be admitting students from their waitlist.
If you have been put on a waitlist, it means you have the academic credentials to be admitted, so you should be proud. You will usually be asked to send in a card indicating whether or not you want to remain on the waitlist. If you do, you can increase your chances of admission by writing a letter to the admission's office reiterating your desire to attend and providing new and supplemental information. Talk about what else you can do to increase your chances of admission with your Guidance Counselor. Study hard and stay involved in your activities. In the meantime, notify your top choice school among your acceptances that you plan to attend that school and send in a deposit. If you hear from your waitlist school that you have been accepted off the waitlist and you want to attend that school, notify the other school immediately and explain that you have been admitted off the waitlist at your first choice school and will be attending that school instead. Send in your deposit right away.
Additional information about making the final decision.