So, you've submitted your application. What's next?
The college application process isn't over yet! You still have a few more things to do.
Portals
Colleges communicate with you in two main ways: your email, and your portal. A school portal contains lots of information, most frequently, a checklist of what information they've received from you.
Once you get your Application Portal, make sure you can log in ASAP! Save your username (especially) and password somewhere easily accessible (the WORST feeling is knowing a decision is out and not being able to access it because you were too lazy to save it somewhere you remember so you have to dig through your email.)
I would recommend checking your portal after a few days to confirm all your materials have been sent to the collegeand reaching out to the right people if they haven't.
When you get updates from a college, it'll likely be through your portal. Decision letters are also sent through your portal!
Interviews
Some colleges offer interviews, but not all interviews mean the same thing! Different schools weigh them differently:
| School | How much interviews matter |
|---|---|
| Penn | Not considered (per their Common Data Set) |
| Stanford, Princeton | Considered, but not heavily weighted |
| Harvard | Possibly considered — I've heard rumors but can't confirm |
| Duke | 24-25: generally sent to students they were seriously considering |
| Yale | Historically significant — only 10% of applicants even receive one |
So, why offer interviews if they don't matter very much? First:a STRONG negative/positive impression CAN make a difference in your application (but the VAST MAJORITY of interviews are not like this). second, they are a good way to engage alumni! Third, they are a great way for you to learn whether a school is a good fit for you.
In the case the interview DOES matter, practice! Be able to answer things like: tell me about yourself, why this school, where do you see yourself in 10 years. There are SO many videos online to help.
Make sure to prepare questions to ask your interviewer too! My personal advice is to prompt the interviewer to talk about more neutral/positive topics to leave the conversation on a high note!
Waiting…
I know waiting for your results is so, so, so stressful. However, keep in mind that you are now finally into the fun part of senior year. make the most of it! Spend time with friends, go on side quests, etc. It'll also make the wait seem so much shorter.
However, whatever you do, ESPECIALLY first semester:do NOT let your grades fall.Colleges look at your first semester grades if you're applying RD, and as the most recent set of grades, they carry significant weight. If you get in ED, low grades can be a reason for a warning or even having your acceptance revoked.
| Semester | What to aim for |
|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Maintain or improve your academic performance |
| 2nd Semester | Stay safe — maybe 1-2 Bs at max. Stay away from Cs! |
Don't do anything stupid and get caught cheating in school, posting weird stuff on social media, DUIs, etc.
Otherwise… high school is almost over :) Enjoy it!