- College Decision Day is usually May 1st.
- Most students need to decide where they’re attending college by May 1st and submit a deposit to secure their spot.
- If a student isn’t sure when they need to have their decision in by, reach out to the college as soon as possible. Many schools will be flexible due to the unique circumstances, too.
Every year on May 1, high school students around the country participate in College “Decision Day” – the deadline for when most colleges require an accepted students’ decision by. It’s important to mark this date on your calendar. If you miss it, you might not be able to attend that school in the fall. Here’s what you should know about College Decision Day so you can choose the best school for you!
How To Prepare for Decision Day
Decision Day is a big deal! You’ll be deciding where you’ll be attending in the fall and hopefully for the next four years. To prepare for decision day, follow these tips:
1. Celebrate
You’ve been accepted to college! Celebrate your achievement 12 years in the making. You can go out to dinner, head to the movies, or buy that item you’ve been wanting to buy for months now. How you celebrate is up to you! Congratulations!
2. Avoid Senioritis
It’s all too easy to start skating by in your classes once you have those acceptance letters in hand. However, schools can and will rescind offers if your grades fall too much. Keep up the hard work and don’t give into senioritis.
3. Apply for and Review Financial Aid
The cost of attendance is probably one of the most important factors for many students when choosing a college. Financial aid will play a huge role in your decision. If you haven’t already, submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile or state financial aid forms if required.
Your acceptance letters may have included financial aid offer letters. These detail what the school is offering you financially should you attend in the fall, such as state grants, institutional grants and scholarships, federal loans, Pell Grant, and work study.
While some colleges make it very clear how much they’re offering you to attend, other financial aid offer letters can be confusing. There is no standardized format for these letters, so comparing them to find the best deal is tough.
To find out how much a college costs, subtract the total amount of financial aid offered from the total cost of attendance (COA). Double check that any scholarship offers aren’t just for your first year of college – your COA may be higher next year, if so, which could influence your decision to attend.
If you can’t make heads or tails of your offers or you just want to cut through the confusion and see how much one college will cost compared to another, we recommend using our Financial Aid Offer Letter Comparison Tool.
Once you compare your financial aid between schools, you can better understand how much it will cost to attend each one in the long run, which could influence your final decision. You might even be able to appeal for more aid.
Make sure to keep applying to scholarships, too. They can help cover the gap between what you’re offered and what you need to attend your dream college.
4. Track Deadlines
Your potential colleges provide details about any important deadlines you’ll have to meet over the next few weeks, including their Decision Day. Mark these on your calendar, your phone, or wherever else you’re going to see it.
You’ll most likely have to make at least a deposit to secure your spot by May 1. However, some schools have other deadlines for accepting financial aid or housing. For example, Florida State University (FSU) requires a deposit for priority housing in March. If you decide not to attend and notify the school by Decision Day, they refund the deposit.
5. Visit Campuses
If you haven’t already visited the colleges you are considering, get to the campuses as soon as possible. Many colleges have events specifically for admitted students.
If you can’t make the events, still visit to see if it feels like a good fit for you. Online college tours are designed to make the school look fantastic – it’s marketing. They’re not going to show you the bad aspects of the school.
During your trip to colleges, talk to current students, explore the surrounding city, and get a feel for the environment.
6. Ask Questions
If there are aspects of college that are important to you and you can’t find details online about it, ask! Admissions officers can answer most questions admitted students have. You can also ask alumni or current students on social media.
7. Let Colleges Know Your Decision
As you rule out schools you’ve been accepted to, you need to let them know. They may ask you for an email, provide a response card in the mailed acceptance letter, or have a spot to decline the offer on their admission’s online portal.
Don’t skip letting colleges know about your decision not to attend. You may be freeing up a spot for someone else who is on the waiting list. If you don’t let the school know, those other students are never offered a spot. It’s also polite since the college took the time to read over your application and accept you.
What’s Next
Once you’ve made that final choice, don’t forget these important next steps:
- Send in your deposit(s).
- Keep an eye out for next-step documents from the school.
- Sign up for orientation.
- Finish your high school year off strong.
- Make sure you are set with your finances (scholarships, grants, student loans, etc.).
- Create your packing list.
- Celebrate your achievements!
Congratulations on your acceptance letters, your upcoming high school graduation, and the start of your next journey in your education and life. It’s an exciting time and you might want to rush to make a decision but take your time. Review your options carefully and think about your goals. Once you know what college you’d like to attend, you can let them know and get started on the next steps! Keep an eye out for any emails and messages about deadlines, deposit requirements, and the next steps so you can start off your college education on the right foot.
Finances will likely impact your college decision. Since financial aid offer letters are often confusing, it can be difficult to tell which is the best deal. Want to compare your letters faster and easier, in plain language? Use our Financial Aid Offer Letter tool.
