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Most future college students have to accept or decline a college’s offer of acceptance by May 1st, which is known as National College Decision Day. There are some exceptions, so it’s important to read all documents, emails, and literature that come from your school. As you start receiving acceptance letters, you may feel like you need to make some quick decisions. In most cases, you don’t have to rush – here’s what you need to know about making this important decision.
When Do You Have to Accept a College Offer?
If you applied to a college or university by the regular decision or early action deadlines for a fall start, the college acceptance deadline is likely May 1st, or the National College Decision Day. You’ll need to submit an answer to your choice school, letting them know your decision to attend, and likely send in your deposit by this date.
Of course, not every college requires an answer on May 1. Students may have to reply sooner or later depending on how they applied. Here are some other possible college acceptance deadlines you may need to write in your calendar:
Early Decision
If you’re accepted to your early decision college, you’ll generally have to accept the offer, withdraw other applications, and submit your deposit just a few weeks after getting the letter.
If you applied under early decision, you’ll generally hear back in mid-December. Early decision II applicants will hear back mid-February. Since early decision is considered binding, if you’re accepted, you’re expected to attend. There are only a few ways to easily be let out of the “contract.”
Rolling Admissions
If you applied to a school with rolling admissions, you may have to submit your decision by May 1, sometime before the fall semester starts, or shortly after it begins, depending on the school.
Rolling admissions means a college accepts applications throughout the entire year. The sooner you submit your application, the sooner you’ll hear back. Rolling admission schools may have priority deadlines, which means students who apply by that date are given priority over those who apply later. And all have a “final” deadline, which is the last date they’ll accept applications for the upcoming semester.
If a school’s final deadline for the upcoming semester is before May 1, you likely will have to submit your answer on May 1 or shortly after. If they accept later applications, the exact date depends on the school. Refer to any paperwork you received with your acceptance letter.
However, keep in mind that even if they don’t require a decision on whether you’re attending until just before the start of fall semester, it doesn’t mean you should wait to let them know. Delaying could mean missing out on a dorm room or a spot in the class you’d like to take.
Different Decision Day Deadlines
While most schools adhere to the National College Decision Day deadline, there are some exceptions. Always check your acceptance letter and packet for exact details just in case. If you’re not sure, reach out to the admissions department as soon as possible.
Alternative Start Dates
If you applied to start in the spring semester, you’ll have a different decision deadline, likely in mid- to late autumn. Some may allow you to make the decision in late December to early January.
When Should You Accept a College Offer?
While a school may not require an answer until May 1 or even later, that doesn’t mean you should wait until that day to accept. Just like your application, last minute submissions can run into Wi-Fi issues or other problems. You could miss out on your spot because of a technical error.
Instead of submitting your decision on the last day possible, accept a college’s offer as soon as you’re sure you want to attend. But if you do need up until the deadline, that’s perfectly fine. You want to be sure you’re making the right choice for your education.
How Do You Decide on a College?
There’s a lot to consider when deciding which college to apply to – but now that you have your acceptance letters in hand, you’ll find yourself reviewing the same factors!
While you might feel it’s an easy decision – you were accepted to your dream college, for example – it’s still a good idea to consider a few things before making your final choice. We recommend these steps:
1. Visit College Campuses
You don’t want to go to your “dream school” for the first time in August and find out it is definitely not the college for you. Online tours and videos are great, but colleges usually only show you what they want you to see. Visiting colleges in person will definitely give you a better sense of what the school offers its students.
Even if you’ve visited the schools already, making another trip (if it’s financially feasible) can help you be sure it’s the right school for you.
2. Compare Your Options
You’ve already compared your options when you applied to colleges, but since it’s time to make an official decision, you’ll want to compare them again. Make a list of pros and cons of each choice.
- Size and location of the campus
- Student life, including clubs, sports teams, extracurricular activities, and other activities
- Field of study
- Curriculum and course options
- Class sizes
- Living arrangements
- Study abroad and research opportunities
- Campus facilities, such as libraries, recreational center, and technology resources
3. Compare Offer Letters
Another aspect you’ll want to compare is the financial aid packages. Colleges likely offered you varying amounts of aid and scholarships. Which is financially the best deal for you?
Financial aid offer letters are often confusing as colleges don’t follow a single format. As a result, it may look like one school is offering a lot, when it’s actually thousands more to attend than the other. Use a financial aid offer comparison tool to better see how much each college is offering versus their cost of attendance (COA).
How Do You Notify a College You’re Attending?
Exact steps depend on the school, but your acceptance letter’s accompanying documents should detail how to notify the college you’re attending. If you can’t find this information, it should be available on the school’s website. You can also reach out to the admissions department with any questions.
In most cases, it’s as easy as logging into your accepted student portal and completing a few forms. You’ll also likely have to submit a nonrefundable deposit to secure your spot, usually ranging from $100 to $300, though some colleges charge much more.
Should You Let a College Know You’re Not Attending?
While you don’t technically have to let a college or university know you’re not attending, it’s still polite to. Thank the school for their consideration and offer and graciously decline. If you end up deciding your chosen college isn’t right for you, you might just want to attend one of the colleges you declined.
It’s also good to notify the school because there may be other students who are waitlisted. By letting the college know you’re not attending, you potentially open up the spot for someone else.
What if You Miss the National College Decision Day Deadline?
If you miss the May 1 or other decision deadline, contact the college admissions department as soon as possible. If you have a valid excuse, they may allow you to still accept their offer. Detail the emergency, problems, or other issue you faced when trying to submit your decision and deposit. If they accept your excuse, be sure to send in a thank you note.
What’s Next?
After you’ve submitted your letter of acceptance and deposit to your college of choice, there’s a few things you should plan for over the next few months:
Celebrate!
First, congratulate yourself! You’ve started on your next journey and you’ve accomplished so much. The college application process is stressful, and you’re overdue for a bit of celebration. Whether that’s going out with friends or heading to your favorite restaurant with family, you deserve it!
Wait for Your College
Next, there’s a little bit of a waiting game, but the stressful part is behind you. You have to wait for the college to send any further materials, including information on when to sign up for orientation, pick your classes, select your dorm room, and more. You should also receive details regarding move-in day for first years and the first day of classes.
Check into your student portal regularly and always keep on the lookout for emails.
Sign Up for (And Attend) Orientation
As soon as dates open up for college orientation, sign up! Good orientation slots fill up quickly, so you’ll want to get a jump on it to get the best date that works for you. And don’t skip it! Orientation is vital to making friends, but it may also be necessary to select courses, pick a dorm room, take placement exams, and more. At many colleges, it’s even mandatory to attend.
Complete Other College Tasks
After you’ve submitted your final college decision, your college will likely send you a list of tasks to be completed.
Depending on the school, this may include things like placement tests, class selection, dorm room selection, and paying for tuition and other college costs, especially if these tasks won’t be completed during orientation. You may also have to arrange for transcript submissions and finalize any financial aid requirements.
Finish High School Strong
Did you know that high schools will send your final transcripts to your college? If you catch a bout of senioritis, the college could withdraw their acceptance offer! You want to keep working hard in your classes and on your finals to ensure your spot continues to stay locked in.
Think about Finances
Of course, you need to be able to afford college in order to attend. That may mean taking out private student loans if institutional grants, savings, scholarships, and federal financial aid doesn’t quite cover all expenses.
Remember to consider the other costs you’ll have, such as housing, meals, and books. You should have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) already, but there’s still time if you haven’t.
You should also take time this summer to apply for scholarships – you never know if you’ll win!
Create Your Packing List
This one doesn’t have to be done immediately, but you should start thinking about what you’ll pack to bring with you to college. Dorms have limited space, so plan accordingly! Overpacking (and under-packing) are problems most first-year college students face, but knowing exactly what and how to pack will save you from this.
If you have a roommate or suitemates, you can also reach out to them to get a few décor ideas.
Connect With the School
Keep on top of the latest from your college by following them on social media. Most schools provide updates on campus events, sports, clubs, and first year activities. It’s a great way to stay connected during the summer and possibly engage with other students.
While the deadline to accept college offers for most schools is May 1st, this is not a hard and fast rule. Your college may have an earlier or later deadline. Always pay attention to the paperwork you received with your acceptance letter so you can plan accordingly!
Financial aid packages usually come with acceptance letters, but most don’t have a single format and they may be a little confusing. How do you know you’re getting the best deal? Our Financial Aid Offer Comparison tool cuts through any confusion and puts the numbers in an easy-to-understand format. Click here to sign up for this FREE resource and get started!
