Deciphering College Admissions Decisions

Waiting for college acceptances to come in while you spent four years preparing can be stifling, anxiety ridden and you begin to question every decision you ever made. Having your life determined for the next four years by strangers who assess your breadth of work for maybe 12 minutes, is nothing short of exasperating. Here is the breakdown of decisions to help you through the madness. 

Deferred: 

This is only for students who applied Early Action ( EA) and receive word that they will be considered with the regular admission students. This is not a rejection nor an acceptance but a chance to be reviewed again. This could be due to institutional priority; specific needs the university needs to meet that has nothing to do with the student’s merit. Schools could also want to see how you compare to their regular applicants before they send out acceptances. 

Waitlisted: 

This does NOT mean you are rejected! It’s a hold, a literal wait and see. Schools may want to see how many students will accept. They also may want more information from you; could be test scores, essays, an interview, seeing what else you’ve done. If allowed, the schools will accept a letter to the admissions counselor. You should include what you’ve done since you first applied. Did you get a job? Made more impact in your community?  Get published with your research? Any new awards or accolades? These should all be stated in a professional letter format. However, some schools specifically ask to not send anything, check to be sure. 

Accepted: 

Congratulations! You have been accepted to the university. You now have to make a decision to which university you would like to attend. You must submit your chosen institution no later than May 1st, known as National College Decision Day, to ensure enrollment.

Rejection: 

You have not been accepted to this institution. Although this is a disappointment, keep in mind that you, the person, was not rejected; your application was. Many times, you would be surprised how close you were to the acceptance pile, and due to specific college needs, you were put in the rejection pile. Keep in mind that there are other schools and that this does not define your future and career path!

When you open the anticipated email, remember that there are always different pathways to meet your future goals. Some of the best doctors, teachers, and entrepreneurs began at a community college, started later in life, or attended school years after high school. Do your best, and whatever the decisions are, make your best choice. Grit and perseverance will guide you to find your path.