Early Decision and Early Action admissions decisions are here: Accepted, Deferred, or Denied. Now what? Whatever your result, there are more things that you can do.

If you are Deferred

Take a deep breath. It’s not over. Typically about 10% of students who are deferred admission end up getting in during the Regular Decision round.
Find out WHAT the college wants from you! Students should determine what the college requires, what’s appropriate to provide, and respect their rules. If a college specifically states that deferred students should not submit additional application materials, then do not send in materials. Students can ruin their chances for Regular Decision by not following directions.
Semester/Mid-year Grades. If applicable, ask your counselor to please send these grades to the university. If you have been on an upward trajectory, the university may be waiting to see these grades.
Email your ED/EA School. If allowed, after Winter Break, in mid-January, when you have had some time to reflect, write a compelling letter to the admissions officer of your ED/EA school stating their school is still your first choice (if it still is). It will seem more sincere at that time and will not get lost with the hundreds of other emails coming from deferred students. Universities want to admit students who they believe are likely to attend their school. Include any updates about recent accomplishments since you applied, other activities you have undertaken, and/or excitement about your first semester grades.
Check with your high school school counselor and see if the universities offered them any insight or perspective. Were there any red flags? Usually, there are NOT. It’s just the numbers.
Ask your high school counselor if it might be appropriate to have another letter or recommendation submitted on your behalf.
Did you have any deficits in your application? Can you take an ACT/SAT now that you couldn’t before? Could you do a community service project over break and update admissions about that? Is there a short Coursera course you can take over break? The pandemic has made everything so hard, we know.
Consider applying ED2. It might be better to reach for surety of execution as opposed to other moonshot schools.
Get to work on your other Regular Decision applications with enthusiasm. Your story is not written yet.
Re-read your personal statement with fresh eyes. You probably have not looked at it for a while. Does it still reflect the person you are? Is there anything that strikes you as odd or offensive? You can change your personal statement on the Common Application for schools to which you have not yet applied. Maybe show it to a new teacher or adult to see if it is sending the message you intend.
Supplemental Essays. Reconsider what you have written. Are your responses specific to each school? Do you give examples?
Triple Check for Errors. Make sure that you are naming the correct school to which you are applying and don’t have grammatical mistakes.
Love your list! Be sure that you apply to enough schools, specifically places where you will be happy attending. This is not the time to test your limits. If you are a city person, this is not the time to hope you will love a farming life.

If you are Denied

We are so sorry. Eat a pint of ice cream. Lick your wounds. Take a walk. And then, gain some perspective. This is not a reflection on you as a person, your abilities, or an indicator of future success. You will get into a great school. We are believers in the power of the universe directing you towards your path.
Read our suggestions for deferred students above.
Hold your head high. Be proud of who you are and all the challenges you have overcome to get to this point. This journey is HARD. You are going to have a great life. Stay positive and push ahead. Also, watch the Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania. Frank Bruni’s book, by the same name, is inspiring.

If you are Admitted

Yay! Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Withdraw your other applications ASAP. Many friends from your school and others around the country are desperately waiting for those spots. Not to suggest that colleges replace one student from your high school with another, but it helps the universities learn how many spaces they have available to offer.
How to withdraw. Look online at the specific school’s website. Many of them have an option on the portal to withdraw the application. If not, send a short, POLITE AND GRATEFUL, email to an admissions office’s general inbox. Colleges talk amongst themselves and will share disrespectful interactions. We know of instances in which students were rude and the ED school to which they were admitted withdrew the acceptance. These addresses can be found on Naviance.
Show some restraint in posting. Many friends are unhappy with their results and it’s better not to rub it in their faces.
Facebook, here we come. Check on line and see if students are interacting and introducing themselves, but try to read the online social cues and make sure you don’t overexpose yourself too early.