Got Your First College Acceptance Letter? Here’s What to Do Next

Those college admission letters are rolling out, wave by wave, and there’s nothing quite so thrilling as getting that first acceptance in the mail – especially if it is to one of your top-choice schools.

Having that letter in your hand, however, isn’t the end of your admissions process. What you do (and don’t do) next could have huge consequences for your future, so here are our suggestions:

1. Wait Until You Know All Your Options

If you have more than one application out there, it’s wise to wait until you see all your offers. Take this time to review your notes on what makes each campus or curriculum unique, and sit with your feelings for a while about how you felt during your campus visit.

Once you have all the offers in, you’ll need to look at things like:

• What sort of financial aid package or scholarships each school has offered
• Which school has a better faculty, resources or reputation in your area of interest
• What sort of housing and social opportunities you’ll have on each campus

That way, you can make an informed decision before you decide where to enroll.

2. Review the Important Dates and Deadlines

If you don’t already have a student calendar for the upcoming year, you need one. First, look through your offer letter carefully and see if there is a student portal that you can access. Many schools include activation details in your acceptance package. That can help you communicate with the school and keep track of critical dates like:

• The deadline to sign your financial aid documents
• The deadline to accept admission to the school
• Placement tests, if you want to be exempt from certain lower-level courses
• Time, place and other pertinent details about new student orientation
• Information about how to apply to student housing
• Information about how and when to schedule classes

You actually have a few very busy months ahead of you, so make sure that you have a handle on everything that has to be completed before you head into summer or fall.

3. Be Very Conscious of Your Public Profile, Especially Online

Young people are often cautioned about what they post on social media and the image they project to the public. They know that college admissions officers will look at a prospective student’s social media profile before offering them admission. They want to make sure that the student’s morals and values align with the school’s image.

However, not every student knows that schools can keep looking at their social media profiles. A post that’s demeaning to others can attract the admission board’s attention very quickly. Offers of admission can be (and have been) revoked over offensive social media posts.

4. Tell Your Guidance Counselors, Teachers and Others About Your Decision

It’s simply gracious to let the people who helped you along your college admission journey know that you were accepted to one of your preferred schools and where you’ll be heading. You may find that those relationships continue to thrive in the future.

Naturally, it’s also normal to tell your peers where you’re going, but when and how is up to you. You deserve to celebrate a little – so go ahead!