It’s Early Admission Notification Time!

This time of year, high school seniors who applied to colleges by early deadlines are receiving admissions notifications. While we are thrilled for those who have already been admitted, we are equally excited for those who await further admissions updates. Whether you’re eagerly anticipating responses or considering your next steps, we want to remind you that this part of your journey isn’t over until you accept an offer, and Moxie is here to guide you all the way.

The early decision process can be stressful, between meeting early application deadline requirements, waiting for results, and ultimately making that final commitment to attend a school. But even if the initial notifications don’t turn out the way you wish, it is essential to remember that college admissions decisions are never based on a single factor. Numerous factors are considered — some pertaining to your specific application and others beyond your control. Regardless of the decision, you should be proud of the hard work you have put in. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and your continued diligence will ensure a successful and fulfilling college experience, no matter which school you choose to attend.

Here are the possible outcomes for early applications and the actions you should take:

Accepted

Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off. However, there are still some tasks to be completed:

• Read the entire acceptance package carefully, noting financial aid details, scholarship information, and important deadlines.
• Politely decline other offers as soon as you can. This helps schools that you choose not to attend open up spots for waitlisted students.
• Complete housing, orientation, and placement tasks. While this may not happen all at once, you will need to do things such as choosing housing, registering for orientation, taking placement tests, setting up your school email account, and submitting medical forms.
• Keep your grades up! This is important, as some students are tempted to slack off once accepted to college. But don’t forget: colleges can revoke admission if your grades drop significantly.

Deferred

When a college defers you, it means that they are not making a final decision yet and will review your application again later with the regular decision pool.

Waitlisted

This generally means that a college has finished admitting students for the time being. Still, they could offer you a spot later — once they hear back from students who decline admission offers and spaces become available. While there is still hope for admission later, it is important to consider other options just in case.

Denied

While this result is no doubt disappointing, it should never be considered a failure on your part. As stated previously, many factors go into these decisions, and you do have plenty of options for an excellent college education. Don’t give up…the right school for you is still out there.

Not every student chooses to apply by early deadlines. For those who do, some early application notifications won’t yield the desired results. However, it is critical to stay focused, be patient, and consider all your options.

At Moxie College Counseling, we prepare our students for all possible outcomes, which helps avoid overcorrection when admissions notifications start arriving. We want you to feel confident in knowing that you will end up at a school that fits you well, and we will do everything possible to help. For more information, feel free to reach out to us. We’ll navigate this together!