College Decision Dates: What to Expect and How to Wait Without Stress

2 minute read

Managing the Wait: From College Application to Decision Day

You've submitted your college applications and now the stressful waiting period has begun. The time between applying, receiving offers, and making a final decision can feel agonizing. Here are tips and information to help make the wait as stress-free as possible.

When Will I Hear Back?

The date you receive a decision depends on your application type: Regular Decision, Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), or Rolling Admissions.

• Regular Decision: Deadlines typically fall between December and February. Most applicants receive decisions in March.
• Rolling Admissions: Applications are reviewed as they are submitted, rather than waiting for a specific deadline. Decisions can be made in a matter of weeks.
• Early Decision (ED): Applications are due early in the fall (usually October or November), with decisions returned between December and February. ED is binding, meaning you are required to attend that school if accepted.
• Early Action (EA): Applications have similar early deadlines to ED. Decisions are also received in the winter. EA is nonbinding, allowing you to wait, compare offers from other schools, and make a final choice later.

How to Manage the Wait

It's easier said than done to "just relax," so the best strategy is to stay occupied and maintain balance during your senior year.

• Stay Busy: Spend time with friends and family, enjoy hobbies, or try new activities. Focus on enjoying the moment.
• Keep Up the Hard Work: Avoid "senioritis." Colleges can and do rescind admission offers based on poor second-semester grades.
• Manage Your Health: Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Use physical activity (like walking or jogging) to burn off nervous energy or try meditation apps to manage anxiety.
• Set Boundaries: Decide how much you want to talk about the application process with family and friends. Avoid building up any single school too much; all the schools you applied to are great options.

You Made It! National College Decision Day

National College Decision Day is May 1 of each year. This is the deadline by which most students must accept an offer of admission.

If you are choosing between multiple offers, take advantage of admitted students' events, either on-campus or virtual, offered by the potential schools to help make your final decision.