What to do after you submit your college applications

Waiting to hear decisions back from colleges can be one of the most stressful parts of the college application process. Here are four tips for staying productive and making the best use of your time after clicking submit.

• Stay on top of your applications. Be sure you monitor the status of all of your applications on the admissions office websites. If there are any missing pieces, take appropriate action as not doing so can delay the review of your application.
• Do not second-guess yourself. At this point, you have put in your best effort and the decision is ultimately out of your hands. Continue to focus on performing well in your classes and staying involved in your extracurricular activities.
• Start working on financial aid. Now is a good time to fill out your financial aid forms, like the FAFSA, as well as any additional scholarships offered by universities or other organizations. Search the web for scholarships that you qualify for.
• Thank those who have helped you. Send a hand-written thank you note to those who have helped you in the process – think about letter of recommendation writers, school counselors, family or friends. Without them, this process would have been much more difficult!

Congratulations on making it to this point of the admissions process! Enjoy this time while you await decisions. We wish you the best of luck.