When college decisions arrive, students receive one of five possible outcomes: admitted, waitlisted, rejected, deferred, or conditionally admitted (sometimes to an alternate program). Each outcome requires a different response strategy. Understanding these decisions—and knowing exactly what steps to take next—can transform an anxiety-filled waiting period into an opportunity for thoughtful action. This comprehensive guide from Great College Advice breaks down each admission outcome and provides expert guidance on navigating your next steps.
What Are the Five Main Types of College Admission Decisions?
After months of preparation, essay writing, and anxious waiting, your admission decision will fall into one of five categories. Understanding what each means—and more importantly, what to do next—is essential for navigating this critical moment in your college journey.
The five main types of college admission decisions are:
- Admitted/Accepted: Congratulations! You have received a clear offer of enrollment. The school wants you to join their community. Depending on whether you applied Early Decision (binding), Early Action (non-binding), or Regular Decision, your next steps will differ.
- Waitlisted: You are a qualified candidate, but the school cannot offer you admission at this time. You may be offered a spot if admitted students decline their offers. Being waitlisted is neither an acceptance nor a rejection—it’s a “maybe.”
- Rejected/Denied: The school has decided not to offer you admission. While disappointing, this is a clear answer that allows you to focus your energy on schools that have accepted you.
- Deferred: Your Early Decision or Early Action application will be reconsidered in the Regular Decision round. This is common at highly selective schools and means you remain in consideration.
- Conditionally Admitted/Alternate Area: You have been accepted with specific conditions to meet before enrollment is finalized, or you have been offered admission to a different program or major than the one you applied to.
“Early action, you’re not bound to a school. You’re just expressing your intent. And they take a group of people from that first pool. Some of them get rejected early, some of them get moved on to the spring decision time.”
— Jamie Berger, Veteran College Admissions Expert
What Should I Do If I Am Deferred?
Being deferred from your Early Decision or Early Action school can feel like being left in limbo. Your application wasn’t strong enough for immediate acceptance, but the admissions committee wants to reconsider you alongside the Regular Decision applicants.
Here’s what to do immediately:
Continue working on your Regular Decision applications. This is why Great College Advice insists that all early applicants have their RD applications substantially complete before early decisions are released. As the Great College Advice Family Handbook explains, “If a student is rejected from all ED and EA applications, they will have only about two weeks to complete and submit the remaining RD applications. Leaving all this work to the last minute means running the risk of submitting poorly crafted applications.”
Write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). Express your ongoing enthusiasm for the school. Be specific about why this school remains your top choice, but keep it concise and genuine.
Update admissions with new achievements. Strong first-semester senior grades, new awards, leadership positions, or significant accomplishments since you applied should be shared with the admissions office.
Consider ED2 if you’ve been released from your ED commitment. Once a college has ‘released’ you from the ED agreement either by deferring or denying you, you can feel free to tell another school that you will go there if accepted by applying ED2, if they offer an ED2 application plan.
One community member noted that their student was deferred from his ED school so then submitted a few more applications by the Jan 1 deadline. “Absolutely no reason at this point to do it early [submit RD applications before hearing back from ED school] as it’s just going to waste time and money on application fees if he does get accepted to ED.”
How Do I Get Off the College Waitlist?
Being waitlisted means the college sees you as a qualified candidate but cannot offer you admission at this time. Waitlist admission rates vary dramatically by year and institution—some years schools admit hundreds from their waitlist, other years none at all.
If you want to remain on the waitlist, take these steps:
Accept your spot on the waitlist promptly. Schools need to know who is still interested. If you’ve already committed to another school you’re excited about, it’s perfectly acceptable to decline your waitlist spot.
Send a Letter of Continued Interest. Make it clear this school is your first choice and you will attend if admitted. Be specific about why you and this school are a great fit.
Submit updated materials. Final first-semester grades, new awards, significant achievements, or compelling updates can strengthen your case.
Have your counselor advocate on your behalf. An additional letter of support from your school counselor can reinforce your continued interest and qualifications.
However, be realistic about your chances and timeline. As one parent in the Great College Advice community shared about their son’s experience: “UM [University of Michigan] was my OOS son’s dream choice. He applied early, got waitlisted, waited FOREVER, and eventually rejected. He’s a great student, athlete, eagle scout, had all the boxes checked, and got accepted at every other school. “
Critical: Always commit to a college by the May 1 deadline while remaining on a waitlist. You may forfeit your enrollment deposit if you’re later admitted off the waitlist, but you need a guaranteed spot somewhere.
Early Decision vs. Early Action: Which Is Right for Your Student?
Choosing between Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA)—or whether to apply early at all—requires careful strategic thinking. The two options serve very different purposes.
Early Decision (ED) is a binding commitment. If you are accepted, you must enroll and immediately withdraw all other applications. This sends the strongest possible signal of interest to the school.
Early Action (EA) is non-binding. You receive an early decision (typically in December or January) but maintain the freedom to compare offers and wait until May 1 to decide.
Jamie Berger, a veteran college admissions expert, explains the strategic value clearly: “Early action is something almost everyone should do. You’re not bound to a school.” He notes that the benefit of early action is you get some answers in December or January—you have some schools in your back pocket.
When to apply Early Decision: According to Great College Advice, ED makes sense only when three conditions are met:
- The school is definitively your first choice
- You have a reasonable chance of admission
- If you need financial aid, the school meets 100% of demonstrated financial need
Jamie Berger is candid about ED’s limitations: “Early Decision favors families who can pay the full cost of college because you cannot compare financial aid packages from multiple schools. When you’re going early action, it’s like buying a car—you can negotiate. If this school gives you more money than that school, you could go back to the other one.”
When to skip early applications entirely: Jamie advises that early apps only make sense to skip if your junior year grades were lower and you need to prove yourself in the first semester of senior year. In that case, Regular Decision gives you time to demonstrate academic improvement.
What Does a College Acceptance Letter Really Mean—and What Comes Next?
A college acceptance letter means you have been offered admission to enroll. What happens next depends on your application type:
For ED acceptances: You are bound to attend. Immediately withdraw all other applications—unless the financial aid package is inadequate and you need to appeal or be released from your commitment.
For EA and RD acceptances: You have until the National Candidates Reply Date of May 1 to make your final decision. Use this time wisely.
Your next steps after acceptance:
Review your financial aid package carefully. Compare the net cost (total cost minus grants and scholarships) across all schools that admitted you. The sticker price rarely tells the full story.
Visit or revisit campus if possible. Many schools host admitted student events in the spring. Experiencing campus culture firsthand can be decisive.
Compare all your offers holistically. Consider academics, fit, career outcomes, campus culture, location, and cost together.
Submit your enrollment deposit by May 1 to secure your spot.
How to Handle College Rejection
College rejection is painful, but it’s important to maintain perspective and take constructive action. Even the strongest applicants face rejections from highly selective schools—admission rates at top institutions mean the vast majority of qualified applicants are denied.
The emotional reality: If a student is rejected by their first choice college—and maybe some second and third choices, too—the psychological energy needed to complete those subsequent RD applications is significant. That disappointment can have a negative impact on the quality of those RD applications. This is precisely why completing all applications before early decisions arrive is essential.
Practical steps after rejection:
Focus on schools that accepted you. One of these schools may become your perfect fit. Most students who attend their “backup” schools end up loving their college experience.
Recognize that highly selective admissions involve factors beyond your control. Legacy status, institutional priorities, geographic diversity needs, and the specific composition of that year’s applicant pool all play roles you cannot influence.
Understand that rejection is redirection, not a reflection of your worth. College admissions committees are not evaluating you as a person—they’re building a class with specific institutional goals.
Paul Wingle, a member of the Great College Advice community, shared this advice: “If the ED school is a reach, you can hope, but you should be emotionally prepared for the possibility of a deferral or denial. You should keep working on your other applications.”
How Will You Receive Your Admission Decision?
Most colleges notify applicants through their secure online applicant portal. According to Great College Advice, “Most colleges will send an email and provide students with login information for a portal that will allow them to check the status of their applications and ensure that all application materials have been received.”
Decision timing:
- Early Decision: Typically Mid-December
- Early Action: Mid-December to Late January/Early February
- Early Decision 2: Early/Mid-February
- Regular Decision: March to April 1
- Ivy Day: Late March (all eight Ivy League schools release simultaneously)
- Rolling Admissions: Continuous throughout the cycle
Check your portal and email regularly—including your spam folder. Some schools send preliminary notifications via email before updating the portal, while others update the portal first.
For UK universities using UCAS: The process differs significantly. Students typically receive conditional offers based on predicted grades, with final confirmations arriving after A-Level, AP, or IB results in the summer. As one Great College Advice counselor explains, UK applicants “might only get a conditional acceptance. And those conditions depend on your test scores. So then you have to wait for your test scores to come back.”
What Is Conditional Admission and What Does It Require?
Conditional admission means you’ve been accepted, but specific requirements must be met before your enrollment is finalized. Conditions vary by school and situation but commonly include:
Academic conditions: Maintaining a minimum GPA through graduation, completing specific prerequisite courses, or achieving certain standardized test scores.
English proficiency conditions (for international students): Achieving a minimum TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score.
Bridge or foundation program requirements: Some students are admitted contingent upon completing a summer bridge program or foundation year.
UK conditional offers: For UK universities, conditional offers are standard practice. Students receive offers based on predicted grades and must achieve specific scores on A-Levels, AP exams (typically 5s), or IB assessments (typically 6s or 7s in relevant subjects). If conditions aren’t met, the offer may be withdrawn.
Always read your conditions letter carefully and understand exactly what is required and by when. If you have questions, contact the admissions office directly for clarification.
What Does Admission to an Alternate Major or Program Mean?
Some colleges, particularly those with competitive programs in engineering, business, nursing, or other high-demand fields, may offer admission to an alternate program instead of your first-choice major.
For example, you might be denied admission to the College of Engineering but offered a spot in the College of Arts and Sciences with a path to potentially transfer into engineering later.
Before making a decision, research:
What are the requirements for internal transfer to your desired program? Some schools make this relatively straightforward; others have highly competitive processes with low success rates.
What percentage of students who attempt internal transfers are successful? Ask the admissions office directly for this data.
Would you be happy at this school if you cannot transfer into your preferred program? If the answer is no, you may be better served attending a school where you were admitted directly to your desired program.
Consider whether the alternate program might actually be a good fit. Sometimes students discover that their initial intended major wasn’t the right path after all.
Can I Appeal a College Rejection or Waitlist Decision?
Most highly selective colleges do not accept appeals of admission decisions, though policies vary by institution. Before considering an appeal, check the school’s official policy.
If appeals are accepted, valid grounds typically include:
- Significant new information not in your original application (major awards, dramatically improved grades)
- A documented error in how your application was reviewed
- Significant changes in circumstances
Appeals based simply on disappointment or disagreement with the decision are rarely successful.
For waitlisted students, the better approach is demonstrating continued interest through a Letter of Continued Interest and updated materials rather than a formal appeal.
As Bonnie Hale, a member of the Great College Advice community, often reminds families: “Perfection is an illusion” in college admissions—sometimes the outcome is simply not what we hoped for, and the best path forward is focusing on schools that want you.
What Is the Timeline for Receiving College Admission Decisions?
The typical timeline for college admission decisions in the US follows this pattern:
| Application Type | Deadline | Decision Release |
| Early Decision (ED) | November 1-15 | Mid-December |
| Early Action (EA) | November 1-15 | December-January |
| Early Decision 2 (ED2) | January 1-15 | Mid-February |
| Regular Decision (RD) | January 1-15 | By April 1 |
| Rolling Admissions | Varies | Continuous |
Ivy Day, when all Ivy League schools release decisions simultaneously, typically occurs in late March.
The National Candidates Reply Date is May 1—you must commit to one school by this date.
As Jamie Berger advises, “The benefit of early action is you get some answers in December or January—you have some schools in your back pocket.”
What Should I Do While Waiting for College Admission Decisions?
The waiting period between submitting applications and receiving decisions can be anxiety-inducing. Channel that energy productively:
Complete all remaining applications. Don’t wait for early results before finishing your Regular Decision applications. Great College Advice is emphatic on this point.
Maintain strong senior year grades. Colleges request mid-year reports and final transcripts. A significant drop in grades can result in rescinded offers. As one community member noted, their daughter “was deferred at her first choice and she was asked to send midterm grades. She then got in but also had to send her final transcripts.”
Continue your extracurricular commitments. Colleges expect you to follow through on the activities and leadership roles described in your application.
Complete financial aid forms. File the FAFSA and CSS Profile by each school’s priority deadline to maximize your aid eligibility.
Research schools more deeply. Watch virtual information sessions, connect with current students, and explore academic programs in detail.
Limit time on anxiety-inducing platforms. Obsessing over College Confidential threads and “chance me” posts rarely helps and often increases stress.
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