You’ve Submitted Your Application to College, Now What?
Congratulations! You have now submitted some applications to colleges with November 1 or November 15 deadlines. What do you do next?
Keep up the good work in school. Colleges with early applications will often want to see first quarter/marking period, trimester, or semester grades. They want to make sure that you are continuing your trajectory of being a strong student. In the past, colleges have sent warning letters or put students on academic probation for drastic drops in grades. If you decide to drop a course or switch to a less rigorous course, you should notify your colleges as soon as possible about the change.
Set up your portals and keep track of your login credentials. For most (but not all) colleges, after you submit your application, usually within 2 business days or so, you should receive an email that confirms that the college has received your application.Set up your portal and track your login username and password. I highly recommend a password tracker such as 1Password. However, a spreadsheet can work just as well. The portals are where colleges communicate with you - you will see a checklist of your application items. If you notice that items are missing more than a few weeks after the deadline, follow up with your college, and possibly your high school counselor. Note that portals are usually where colleges will communicate your decision with you. I’ve had multiple students forget their credentials and get locked out when checking a decision - don’t let this happen to you!
Sample portal login steps from Macalester College
Check for any next steps. Some colleges, such as Northeastern, have a separate form where you enter your grades. Many public schools want you to enter your grades in the SRAR. Some want you to self-report your standardized test scores. Some colleges have supplemental essays that appear after you submit your Common App. And some students who are applying for talent-based programs may have required audition or portfolio materials to submit. In these cases, your application is not considered complete until all of these items are submitted.
Check your email from your colleges at least once a day, in case anything is missing.
Check your portal for your colleges twice a week, in case anything is missing or there are any updates
Send thank you notes to your recommenders - especially your teachers!
Be in touch with anything you’re proud of! If you won an award at school or did a fun research project, you can send brief updates. Often, there is also room in your portal to write these updates.
Well done on submitting your applications! We’re rooting for you!