What Is a College Reception?

How Is a College Reception Different from a College Fair?

Why College Receptions Matter for Admissions

“Some colleges have started to reject overqualified applicants who they don’t think have any interest. Demonstrated interest is helping colleges weed out students who are just throwing darts at a wall of schools.”

— Jamie Berger, Great College Advice

How Do Students Get Invited to College Receptions?

1. Test score data sharing. When students take the SAT or ACT, they can send their scores to colleges. Many of these colleges put students on their mailing lists and invite them to local receptions.
2. Requesting information. If a student has signed up for information on a college’s website, filled out an inquiry card at a college fair, or requested a brochure, the school will often include them in local event outreach.
3. High school counselor notifications. High schools regularly receive announcements about receptions happening in the area and share those with students. This is one reason it pays to stay in close contact with your school counselor.

What to Expect at a College Reception

The Presentation

• An overview of the college’s academic programs, campus culture, and student life that sets it apart from other schools
• Key admissions statistics (acceptance rates, GPA and test score ranges, application deadlines)
• Information about financial aid and scholarship opportunities
• Details about the application process that may not be spelled out on the website

Special Guests

• Current students who speak to campus life, academics, and day-to-day experience
• Faculty members who discuss academic programs and research opportunities
• Alumni who share their experiences after graduation and what the degree has meant for their careers

The Networking Period

How to Prepare for a College Reception

“Students should arrive having researched the colleges and knowing what they want. It shouldn’t be their first time hearing about these schools. Come with questions beyond what’s on the website—not just ‘how big is your freshman class?’ or ‘what majors do you offer?’ Be specific. It shows you’ve done your homework.”

— Jeanette Hadsell, Senior Admissions Consultant, Great College Advice

“You don’t need to wear a suit and tie, but avoid workout shorts. Be ready to shake hands, introduce yourself, and present a professional face.”

— Jeanette Hadsell, Senior Admissions Consultant, Great College Advice

Questions to Ask at a College Reception

• How does your college support students who want to pursue independent research before graduate school?
• What does the process look like for switching majors, and how does it affect financial aid?
• What percentage of your students receive merit aid, and how competitive is the process?
• What are the most common reasons qualified applicants are waitlisted or denied?
• What does your admissions committee value most in the supplemental essays?
• Are there specific programs, internship pipelines, or honors tracks you think are underutilized by prospective students?

“Bring your real concerns, interests, and questions about their school. Think of yourself as a customer of a product that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars—because you are.”

— Jamie Berger, Great College Advice

What to Bring

• A small notebook or use a notes app to record what you learn
• A list of your prepared questions for each school attending
• Business cards, if you have them (some students create simple cards with their name, school, graduation year, and email — admissions officers notice)
• Bring a positive, curious attitude. Admissions officers who have been traveling since 5 AM appreciate students who are truly engaged.

What to Do After a College Reception

Send a Thank-You Note

Update Your College List

Decide Whether a Campus Visit Is Worth It

Get Expert Guidance for Every Step of the College Admissions Process

Frequently Asked Questions About College Receptions

What is the difference between a college reception and a college fair?

Do colleges track whether students attend receptions?

Should I attend a reception for a school I’m only mildly interested in?

What should students wear to a college reception?

Can parents attend a college reception?

What questions should I ask at a college reception?

Is attending a college reception considered demonstrated interest?

Should I follow up after attending a college reception?

What happens after the presentations at a college reception?

How do I find out about college receptions in my area?

The post What to Expect at a College Reception first appeared on Great College Advice.

What is in the Common App?

The Common App is the standardized application platform that many colleges and universities are a part of so students can apply to multiple schools without having to fill out the same information for each college.

The Common App consists of a series of different sections for you to complete:

• Profile: Basic personal info (name, contact, demographics, language).
• Family: Details about parents, guardians, siblings, and family education history.
• Education: High school information including awards, honors, and future aspirations.
• Testing: Self-reported scores from standardized tests (SAT, ACT, AP, IB, etc.).
• Activities: Your top 10 extracurriculars where you list the time commitment and highlight leadership roles.
• Writing: Your Common App personal statement (up to 650 words) and an optional “Additional Information” section for unique circumstances or challenges.
• Courses & Grades: A recreation of your high school transcript that is required by some colleges). 

The next few months are a great opportunity for rising high school seniors to register for a Common App account before August 1 to familiarize themselves with the platform – to understand the application, the information that is required, the format, and how it is used.

What can you start doing today?

• Ask your parents to list where they went to college and graduate school;
• Get a hold of your high school transcript so you have your courses and grades handy;
• Know how to access your standardized test scores;
• Make a list of your awards, honors and activities and focus on those that show leadership, impact and growth;
• Brainstorm your Common App personal statement;
• Finalize that college list.

You can hop on to the Common App website where you can watch a video that hits the highlights of the Common App to help you prepare.

Does your high school senior need help with their college applications?

The team at Great College Advice can provide assistance in finalizing your student’s college list, brainstorm essay topics, and keep your student organized and on track during the college admissions season. Please contact us today for your complimentary consultation to learn more about how we make the college admissions process less stressful and more fun.

The post Preview the Common App first appeared on Great College Advice.

With application volumes continuing to increase and class sizes remaining largely unchanged, acceptance rates at the most selective colleges have dropped to historic lows—often hovering between 3% and 8% at elite institutions.  

And yet, even in this environment, our students continue to earn acceptances at the most selective universities in the country.

Great College Advice Class of 2026 College Acceptances

We are proud of what our students accomplished in this cycle. 

Although not an exhaustive list, here are some of the colleges and universities our students have been accepted to this year, from the Ivy League to selective liberal arts colleges to public flagships and everything in between: 

These outcomes are not the result of chance—they reflect a thoughtful, strategic, and highly personalized approach to the admissions process. 

What Sets Successful Applicants Apart in 2026 

With acceptance rates this low, strong grades and test scores are simply the baseline. The students who stand out typically demonstrate:

• A Clear Academic Narrative: Admissions officers are looking for students with coherent intellectual direction, not just scattered achievement.
• Meaningful Extracurricular Impact: Depth matters more than breadth—leadership, initiative, and real-world impact carry significant weight.
• Authentic Personal Storytelling: Compelling essays that communicate voice, values, and perspective are often the differentiator at the highest level.
• Institutional Fit: Top colleges are not just asking “Is this student impressive?” They are asking: “Is this student right for us?” 

How We Help Students Break Through 

In an admissions landscape defined by unpredictability, our role is to bring clarity and strategy. 

Our approach emphasizes: 

• Personalized 1:1 advising  

• Early development of a student’s narrative and positioning  

• Strategic college list building based on fit—not rankings alone  

• Expert guidance on essays, applications, and interviews  

With 20 years of experience working with highly selective universities, we help students translate their achievements into compelling applications that resonate with admissions committees. 

Final Thoughts: Navigating the New Reality 

The Class of 2030 admissions cycle reinforces a critical truth: 

There are far more qualified applicants than there are spots at highly selective universities. 

But that does not mean the process is random—or that outcomes are out of a student’s control. 

With the right strategy, positioning, and guidance, students can—and do—earn admission to the most selective colleges in the world. 

And we are proud to help them get there. 

Ready to get started with the college admissions process?   

The team at Great College Advice has years of experience working with thousands of students as they navigate the college admissions process.  We can help you prepare, select, and apply to colleges to give you the best chance of being accepted to your top choices. Please contact us to schedule your no-cost, no-obligation meeting so we can learn more about you and discuss how we can help make the college admissions process more successful and less stressful.

The post Great College Advice Class of 2026 Acceptances first appeared on Great College Advice.

She was looking for help identifying schools that were the right match for her athletically, as well as academically. Ally lives in North Andover, Massachusetts and chose to work with Great College Advice to help her find the colleges that were the right fit.

Here she is explaining how it worked…in her own words.

Frequently Asked Questions: Athlete Scholarships

Which athletes receive the biggest college scholarships?

Athletes who combine strong academic credentials with athletic ability receive the largest overall aid packages. Outside of full-ride sports (including men’s football, hockey and basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics), the students who earn the most scholarship money often times are those with the highest grades and test scores.

Do all Division 1 athletes get full athletic scholarships?

No. Full-ride athletic scholarships exist only in a small number of revenue-generating sports. Many D1 programs — especially in Olympic sports like track, swimming, and tennis — divide a limited budget across an entire roster or have a set number of full-ride scholarships to offer top recruits. Some D1 schools offer no athletic scholarship money in certain sports at all.

What is the difference between head-count and equivalency sports?

Head-count sports (mainly football and basketball) allow each scholarship to cover a full ride for one athlete. Equivalency sports (most other NCAA sports) give coaches a total dollar amount that must be divided across the team — so a coach might split one full scholarship across three or four players. This is why most college athletes, even at D1 programs, receive only partial aid.

How much is the average college athletic scholarship?

Across all NCAA and NAIA divisions, the average athletic scholarship for an incoming student-athlete is approximately $12,500 per year. By comparison, the average academic financial aid award in 2024–2025 was nearly $17,000, with $12,000 in grants. Neither figure covers the full cost of attendance at most four-year institutions.

Can a student-athlete get both an athletic and academic scholarship?

Yes, and this is often the most financially advantageous outcome. Coaches actively recruit students with strong academics because they raise the team’s academic standing and reduce compliance risk. Those same students frequently qualify for institutional merit scholarships. The two awards can and do stack, particularly at Division 2 and Division 3 programs.

Do Division 3 athletes receive athletic scholarships?

No. NCAA Division 3 rules prohibit athletic scholarships. However, D3 schools — many of which are highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities — often provide generous merit-based and need-based aid to recruited athletes. A strong student-athlete at a D3 school may graduate with significantly less debt than a peer who received a partial athletic scholarship at a D1 program.

When should a student-athlete start the college recruiting process?

Earlier than most families expect. For students seriously pursuing athletic recruitment, the process ideally begins by sophomore year of high school, with information gathering starting in freshman year. Athletic recruits are often committed to a school before senior year begins — up to 18 months ahead of the standard application timeline.

What should a recruit ask a college coach during the recruiting process?

Key questions include: What is the team’s culture and how do players interact? What are the coach’s expectations during the season and off-season? What does a typical practice look like? What academic support — tutors, advisors, study halls — is provided to athletes? How is scholarship money structured, and is there potential for the award to increase over four years?

What non-financial benefits do college athletes receive?

Athletes at many programs receive gear, access to training staff, priority course registration, priority housing assignments, dedicated academic advisors, and access to tutoring and study halls. Priority registration in particular can give athletes a significant advantage in course selection each semester.

Should my child focus more on athletics or academics for college scholarships?

Academics offer a more predictable and universally applicable path to scholarship money. Athletic recruiting is unpredictable — a coach’s needs change each year, and most sports carry limited aid. Strong grades and test scores, by contrast, are valued at every institution and in every sport. The best strategy for a student-athlete is to build the strongest possible academic record, use the sport to open doors, and let the academics provide the financial floor.

The post NCAA D1 Swimmer on Working With a Consultant first appeared on Great College Advice.

The post What Does a College Acceptance Letter Really Mean first appeared on Great College Advice.

How do I preview my Common App before submitting?

The Common Application includes a built-in preview feature that every applicant should use before submitting. To access it, log into your Common App account, navigate to your application for a specific college, and look for the “Preview” or “Print” option. This generates a complete PDF document showing exactly what admissions officers will see when they review your application.

This PDF preview is invaluable because it allows multiple review options. You can sit with a parent and go through the application side-by-side, or you can share the PDF with your college counselor for their professional review. This flexibility means you maintain control of your application while still benefiting from fresh eyes catching potential issues.

The PDF format also makes it easier to spot formatting problems, text that got cut off due to character limits, or sections that look incomplete when viewed as a whole document rather than screen by screen.

What common mistakes should I look for when reviewing my Common App?

Your application review should cover several categories of potential errors, ranging from simple typos to strategic missteps.

Biographical and Family Information: Double-check your graduation year, parent education details, and financial aid status. These factual errors are easy to make when filling out forms quickly but can create confusion or administrative issues for admissions offices.

Activities Section Strategy: The Common App provides space for only ten activities with strict character limits. What matters most is not filling every slot, but ensuring the activities you do list accurately represent your involvement. The number of activities is less important than the depth of commitment—students need not fill all ten spaces, but what counts is what information goes into those spaces. Use strong, action-oriented verbs to describe your accomplishments.

Essay Alignment: One of the most common mistakes students make is writing essays that don’t actually answer the prompts. As veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger explains, students often try to squeeze unrelated accomplishments into supplemental essays rather than directly addressing what colleges are asking. He notes that the essay that simply reiterates accomplishments already listed elsewhere is the worst possible approach—admissions officers want to understand who you actually are beyond your data.

School-Specific Requirements: Verify that you’ve selected the correct application deadlines and completed any honors program or scholarship applications that may have separate due dates. One parent in the Great College Advice community shared their experience discovering too late that USC Honors College essays were due November 15th, not December 1st as they had assumed—a costly oversight that proper preview would have prevented.

When should I start reviewing my application before the deadline?

Starting your review process early is essential for submitting your strongest possible application. Great College Advice recommends having your application ready to submit four weeks before each college’s official deadline.

As part of this, final drafts of all essays should be completed one month before the application deadline for that college. This means if your Early Decision deadline is November 1st, your essays should be finalized by October 1st. For January 1 Regular Decision deadlines, essays should be complete by December 1.

This timeline serves two important purposes beyond simply avoiding last-minute stress. First, it’s practical—if you’re rejected from early applications, you’ll have only about two weeks to complete remaining Regular Decision applications if you haven’t already finished them. Leaving all this work to the last minute means running the risk of submitting poorly crafted applications.

Second, the timeline is emotional. If a student is rejected by their first-choice college, the psychological energy needed to complete subsequent applications is significant. That disappointment can negatively impact the quality of remaining applications if they’re not already substantially complete.

Should I have someone else review my Common App before submitting?

Having another person review your application before submission is strongly recommended, though different reviewers serve different purposes.

Parents: Parents should proofread the general information sections to check for small errors like graduation year or financial aid status. Parents know family details that students might misremember or enter incorrectly. There are several ways to facilitate this review—sharing your login information, sitting together to review side-by-side, or sharing the PDF printout for independent review.

Professional Counselors: Working with an experienced college counselor provides strategic review beyond basic proofreading. Great College Advice’s packages include detailed instructions about how to complete the application platform and line-by-line review to ensure every field is filled out correctly and strategically. This includes guidance on which activities to list and how to meaningfully describe them within character constraints.

Important Boundaries: While others can help catch errors and offer feedback, the Great College Advice Family Handbook emphasizes a critical boundary—the application content, especially essays, must genuinely represent your voice and experiences. Do not complete the applications yourself as a parent, and more importantly, do not write the essay. Your student’s application needs to be a reflection of them and therefore needs to be their work.

What sections of the Common App need the most attention during review?

Not all sections of your Common Application require the same level of scrutiny. Focus your review time strategically on these high-priority areas.

Activities Section: This section deserves careful attention because of its strict limitations and strategic importance. Jamie Berger emphasizes that demonstrating an ongoing, in-depth commitment to an activity matters more than the activity itself. Students should be “well-lopsided” with superior talents in one or two areas rather than appearing to flit from one activity to the next without real commitment. During review, ensure your activity descriptions maximize the limited character count and clearly convey your level of involvement and impact.

Personal Statement: Your main essay should reveal something about you that isn’t captured elsewhere in your application. As Jamie Berger explains from his years helping students gain admission to highly selective schools, admissions officers already have all your data—they don’t want to hear more about your accomplishments. They want to get a feel for who you actually are. Review your essay to confirm it shares genuine insight into your personality, values, or perspective.

Supplemental Essays: These require particularly careful review because each college asks specific questions for specific reasons. Verify that each supplemental essay directly answers what’s being asked. Students often fall into the trap of trying to squeeze in more achievements rather than thoughtfully addressing the prompt.

Academic Information: Confirm that your course listings, GPA, and test scores match your official records. Any discrepancies between your application and your transcript can raise red flags.

How do I make sure my essays answer the prompts correctly?

Essay alignment is one of the most critical aspects of your application review, yet it’s where many students stumble.

For your main Personal Statement, the approach is relatively flexible. The seven Common App prompts are broad enough that your answer just needs to fit vaguely into one of them. This gives you creative freedom to share the story that best represents who you are.

Supplemental essays, however, require precision. Jamie Berger, drawing on his extensive experience as a highly acclaimed college admissions counselor, explains that when colleges ask supplemental questions, they’re asking very specific questions that they want you to answer in very few words. He notes that students often veer far from the questions trying to force in additional achievements. You cannot veer off and give an anecdote about a discovery you made in a job if it doesn’t answer the question about why you want to attend that specific school.

During your review, read each prompt carefully and then read your response. Ask yourself honestly: Does this essay directly answer what they asked, or am I using this space to talk about something else I wanted to include? The best supplemental essays demonstrate genuine research into and enthusiasm for each specific college while directly addressing the prompt.

As Jamie Berger emphasizes, the students who succeed have shed the mindset of trying to figure out what admissions officers want to hear. Instead, they approach essays authentically—not trying to game the system, but genuinely reflecting on who they are and what they want from their college experience.

What happens if I submit my Common App with errors?

Understanding the consequences of submission errors underscores why thorough preview is so important—once you submit your Common Application to a specific college, you cannot make changes to that submission.

Minor Errors: A small typo or grammatical error typically won’t derail an otherwise strong application. Admissions officers understand that students are human and review thousands of applications with minor imperfections.

Significant Errors: More serious mistakes—incorrect graduation year, wrong school names, copy-pasted essays with another college’s name, or missing information—can create genuinely negative impressions. These errors suggest carelessness or lack of genuine interest in that particular school.

Deadline Confusion: Some of the most costly errors involve misunderstanding deadlines. One parent in the Great College Advice community shared how their family applied to USC Honors College by the November 15th deadline but thought supplemental essays were due December 1st. In reality, the essays were due November 15th with the main application—the field to input essays had disappeared because the deadline had passed. This misunderstanding meant missing the honors college opportunity entirely.

Administrative Consequences: Some colleges may penalize incomplete or problematic applications administratively. For example, students might be moved from Early Action consideration to Regular Decision if materials don’t arrive by the deadline. This is particularly true for official test score reports, since students have more control over ordering those than over their high school’s transcript-sending process.

The lesson is clear: prevention through thorough preview is always better than hoping admissions officers overlook errors or that deadlines are more flexible than stated. Take the time to review before you submit.

Ready to Submit a Flawless Application? We Can Help.

Don’t leave your college future to chance. Our team of experienced admissions counselors provides comprehensive line-by-line application review to ensure every field is filled out correctly and strategically. From essay development to activities descriptions to deadline management, we’ll help you present your strongest possible application.

Book Your Free Consultation Today and discover how Great College Advice can help you navigate the college application process with confidence.

About Great College Advice: Great College Advice is a boutique college admissions consulting firm with over 100 years of combined experience helping students navigate the college application process. Our counselors provide personalized guidance including strategic college list development, essay support, and comprehensive application review.

The post Why Proofread Your Common App first appeared on Great College Advice.

For a comprehensive overview of all possible admission outcomes, including acceptance, waitlist placement, conditional admission, and alternate pathways, see our complete guide to admission decisions and their common outcomes.

Why Did I Get Rejected from College Even Though I Had Good Grades and Test Scores?

This is often the first and most painful question students ask. The honest answer may be difficult to hear: at most highly selective colleges, the majority of applicants are academically qualified for admission. When nearly everyone applying has strong credentials, admissions officers must make decisions based on factors that extend far beyond your GPA and SAT scores.

Veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger explains what admissions officers are actually looking for: “They’re sculpting a class. They have all your data. They don’t want to hear more about your data or your accomplishments. They want to get a little feel for who you actually are.”

Your rejection likely reflects one or more institutional priorities that had nothing to do with your potential:

• Major and program balancing — Your intended field of study might have been oversubscribed
• Institutional financial needs — Full-pay students sometimes receive preference, particularly at schools without need-blind policies
• Class composition — Admissions teams balance athletes, artists, legacy students, first-generation students, and dozens of other categories

The decision reflects the college’s needs at that specific moment in time, not a judgment of your worth or your potential for success.

How Do I Deal with the Emotional Pain and Disappointment of College Rejection?

Rejection hurts. Whether it comes from the crush who didn’t accept your invitation to Homecoming, the coach whose team you didn’t make, or the college of your dreams, it creates genuine emotional pain that deserves acknowledgment.

Give yourself permission to feel disappointed. Suppressing your emotions won’t make them disappear—it will just delay the processing you need to do. Set aside time to be upset, but also set a boundary for when you’ll begin actively moving forward.

Recognize that this feels personal but isn’t about you. As one family in the Great College Advice community observed after their student’s rejection: the system can feel arbitrary because, at a certain level, it is. When colleges must choose between thousands of qualified applicants, the final decisions often come down to factors entirely outside your control.

The admissions experts at Great College Advice consider emotional support and expectation management essential parts of the counseling process. As they explain to families: “It’s a huge part of our job.”

Shift your perspective about “perfect” schools. The Great College Advice Family Handbook addresses this directly: “Instead of talking about ‘perfect fits’ and ‘dream schools,’ it is generally more helpful to talk about ‘compatibility’ and ‘preferences.'” There is no single college where you’re destined to thrive—there are many schools where you can build a meaningful, successful experience.

Many students ultimately discover that rejection from their early-choice school was a blessing in disguise, leading them to an institution that better suited their actual needs and personality.

What Practical Steps Should I Take Immediately After Receiving a College Rejection?

Once you’ve given yourself time to process the initial disappointment, it’s time for strategic action.

1. Review Your Remaining College List

If you were rejected from a highly selective institution, examine whether your list includes enough “target” and “likely” schools. Students sometimes underestimate how competitive certain schools are, and a rejection may signal that you need to add applications to ensure you have solid options.

As the Great College Advice team advises: “If you were rejected from this school, it is possible that you may not be admitted to schools with a similar profile.”

2. Protect the Quality of Your Remaining Applications

This is critical. The psychological impact of rejection can diminish the quality of applications you complete afterward—which is precisely why experienced counselors insist students finish all applications before receiving early decisions.

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.

If you still have applications to complete, approach them with fresh energy. Each school deserves your best work.

3. Avoid the Appeal Trap

Unless there was a genuine administrative error (like an incorrect transcript in your file), appeals are rarely successful and consume energy better directed elsewhere.

4. Begin Connecting with Schools That Want You

Start researching and emotionally investing in the institutions where you’ve been admitted or have applications pending. Visit if possible, engage with current students, and look for the specific opportunities that excite you about each school.

Should I Try to Appeal a College Rejection Decision?

In most cases, no. Schools rarely reverse admission decisions, and the circumstances under which they might reconsider are extremely limited, typically only when a documented error occurred during the review process.

However, if you’re absolutely committed to attending a specific institution, consider the transfer pathway instead of an appeal. Contact the transfer admissions counselor and ask targeted questions:

• What academic areas should I strengthen during my first year of college?
• Were test scores a significant concern in my application?
• Can I transfer for the spring term, or must I wait a full year?
• What does a competitive transfer applicant look like for your institution?

For some highly competitive schools, the transfer process actually offers better odds than first-year admission. This approach allows you to start strong at another institution while working toward your ultimate goal, and you may discover along the way that you’ve found the right fit after all.

Can I Still Have a Successful College Experience After Being Rejected from My Dream School?

Yes—and understanding why requires confronting one of the biggest myths in college admissions.

The media obsession with Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and other ultra-selective institutions creates a distorted picture of American higher education. Here’s the reality that often shocks families when they first hear it:

“The average acceptance rate at four-year colleges in the U.S. is over 70%. Most schools in the US accept most students.”

— Great College Advice

This means thousands of excellent colleges are eager to have qualified students like you on their campuses. 

Your college experience is shaped far more by what you do once you arrive than by the name on your diploma. The relationships you build, the professors who mentor you, the research opportunities you pursue, the leadership roles you take on, the challenges you embrace—these determine your trajectory, not an acceptance letter.

Students who keep their eyes on their long-term goals and refuse to let disappointment derail their focus consistently achieve success regardless of which college they attend.

How Do I Stay Motivated to Work on Remaining Applications After Getting Rejected?

This challenge is exactly why Great College Advice requires students to complete all applications before early decisions arrive. But if you’re facing this situation now, several strategies can help:

Reconnect with Your “Why”

Each school made it onto your list for specific reasons. Review your notes from campus visits or virtual tours. Revisit the programs, clubs, research opportunities, or campus culture elements that excited you. Let that enthusiasm fuel your writing.

Set a Grief Deadline

Give yourself permission to be upset, but set a firm time limit. After 24-48 hours of processing, commit to resuming your work with full effort.

Remember What Actually Matters in Applications

Jamie Berger’s advice to students applies here: “You have to figure out who you are going to be in college and if a college doesn’t want that person, they’re probably not the right school for you.”

The students who succeed in admissions are those who write authentically rather than trying to game the system. Berger observes that high-achieving students often fall into a gamifying mindset of figuring out what colleges want them to say in applications. This approach backfires at selective schools: “They’re getting thousands and thousands of applications from kids who have always done what they think the right thing to do is. And they fall into kind of a cookie cutter bunch of kids.”

Your remaining applications are opportunities to present your authentic self to schools that may be better fits than the one that rejected you.

Lean on Your Support System

Parents, counselors, and friends can provide perspective when you’re struggling. The college application process is inherently emotional—for students leaving familiar surroundings and parents watching their children prepare to launch. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

What’s the Difference Between Being Rejected, Deferred, and Waitlisted—and What Should I Do for Each?

Understanding these three outcomes is essential because each requires a different response.

Rejection

A rejection is typically a final decision. The college has determined they will not offer you admission, and this outcome rarely changes through appeals. Your energy is better spent focusing on schools that want you.

What to do: Process your emotions, then redirect your focus to schools where you’ve been admitted or have applications pending. If this was your absolute top choice, research the transfer pathway as a potential future option.

Deferral

A deferral means the college couldn’t make a final decision during the early round and will reconsider your application alongside Regular Decision applicants. You’re essentially being placed back into the general applicant pool.

What to do:

• Follow the deferral instructions provided in your portal: Most colleges will let you know what they want to see, if anything
• Submit updated senior year grades if they demonstrate improvement
• Send a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) expressing your ongoing enthusiasm and any meaningful updates since applying
• Continue demonstrating interest through appropriate channels
• Contact your regional admissions officer to ask why you were deferred (if the school allows this communication)
• Do not overdo it—avoid gimmicks like sending cookies or gifts, showing up unannounced, or flooding the admissions office with communications

As the Great College Advice team notes: “A deferral just means you will have to wait a bit longer. You will eventually receive a final decision on your application.”

Waitlist

Being waitlisted means you’re qualified for admission, but the college needs to manage its enrollment numbers before potentially extending an offer. This is perhaps the most emotionally challenging status because it keeps you in limbo.

What to do:

• Write to express continued interest in the school
• Consider visiting campus if feasible
• Be prepared to pay full tuition if admitted—colleges often prioritize full-pay students when going to their waitlist
• Importantly: commit emotionally and financially to a school that accepted you outright by the May 1 deadline

The hardest truth about waitlists comes from the Great College Advice blog: “You’ll be taking this state of being betwixt and between quite personally: you’re not good enough to accept and not bad enough to reject. But the game at this point is not at all personal. It’s not about you. It’s about them. They are trying to manage their budgets and their statistics.”

Moving Forward: Your Next Chapter Awaits

College rejection stings, but it doesn’t define your future. The most successful students—and adults—are those who treat setbacks as redirections rather than dead ends.

Remember:

• Most colleges accept most students. The highly selective schools dominating media coverage represent a tiny fraction of excellent educational opportunities.
• Fit matters more than prestige. Finding a school where you can thrive authentically leads to better outcomes than forcing yourself into an environment that wasn’t meant for you.
• The college experience is what you make it. Your initiative, engagement, and openness to growth will shape your trajectory far more than any admissions decision.

For students navigating the full range of admission outcomes—from acceptance to rejection and everything in between—our comprehensive guide to admission decisions and outcomes provides additional context and next steps.

Need Support Navigating the College Application Process?

You don’t have to face this alone. The team at Great College Advice has deep experience guiding students through every stage of the college journey—including the emotional challenges of rejection, deferral, and waitlist decisions. We provide individually tailored, one-on-one advising to help students find the right path forward and achieve their college dreams.

Since 2007, our expert college admissions consultants have provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries worldwide. Whether you need help reassessing your college list, strengthening remaining applications, or simply want a supportive expert in your corner during a difficult time, we’re here to help.

Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can support your family through the admissions process. Or call us directly at 720.279.7577—we’d be happy to chat with you.

The post How to Face College Rejection first appeared on Great College Advice.

Understanding how deferrals fit into the full range of college admission decisions is the first step toward making smart, financially sound choices during one of the most uncertain moments in the process.

At Great College Advice, our team of six experienced counselors has guided hundreds of families through deferral situations. Below, we answer the most common questions parents ask when a deferral letter arrives—drawing on our team’s 100+ combined years of experience in college admissions.

What Does It Mean to Be Deferred, and How Is It Different from Being Rejected or Waitlisted?

Being deferred means the college has decided not to give your student a final answer yet. If your student applied during an early round (whether Early Decision or Early Action)—the school is essentially saying, “We’re not saying yes and we’re not saying no. We’re going to review your application again during the Regular Decision round.”

Sarah Farbman, Senior Admissions Consultant at Great College Advice, offers a helpful analogy: “Imagine your friend asks you to a party six months from now. You might say, ‘Don’t ask me now—ask me closer to the time.’ That’s basically what being deferred means.”

This is fundamentally different from a rejection, which is a final decision, and from a waitlist, which occurs after Regular Decision and places your student on a backup list if enrolled students decline their spots.

For families evaluating the return on their college investment, here’s the practical distinction: a deferral keeps your student in the running at no additional application cost. A waitlist, by contrast, extends uncertainty well into the summer and can complicate financial planning and deposit decisions at other schools.

What Is the First Thing My Student Should Do After Receiving a Deferral?

The most important first step is to carefully read every piece of communication the school sends with the deferral notification. This might sound obvious, but it matters enormously because different schools handle deferrals very differently.

Sarah Farbman emphasizes this point: “It is very, very important that you follow the instructions the school has given. Sometimes they’ll say, ‘Please fill out this form.’ Other times they’ll say, ‘Please don’t contact us.’ If they’re saying ‘please don’t send us a letter,’ do not send them a letter.”

If the school’s communication leaves room for outreach (or specifically invites it) the next step is to begin preparing a letter of continuing interest, addressed to the specific regional admissions officer responsible for your student’s file.

Equally critical is making sure all remaining Regular Decision applications are finalized and submitted. The Great College Advice Family Handbook stresses this for both practical and emotional reasons: “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.” That guidance applies to deferrals too. Your student’s energy and focus should go toward making every remaining application as strong as possible, rather than fixating on the one school that hasn’t decided yet.

As a member of the Great College Advice community, has noted when advising other parents: the specifics of how deferrals are handled—whether a student automatically enters the Regular Decision pool or needs to take additional steps—depend entirely on the individual school’s process. Always check directly with the admissions office if the deferral letter isn’t clear.

How Do You Write an Effective Letter of Continuing Interest After a Deferral?

A letter of continuing interest (sometimes called a LOCI) is a concise, focused letter sent to the admissions officer responsible for your student’s application. Its purpose is twofold: to reaffirm that the school remains a top choice, and to provide meaningful new information that wasn’t in the original application.

The biggest mistake families make is simply rehashing the original application. Sarah is clear about this: “It is important not to just reiterate your file. They have your file—they already have all the information you gave them. Instead, include new information, new updates, and things you didn’t tell them before in order to affirm that this is a very important school for you.”

Effective updates to include in a letter of continuing interest:

• Academic improvements: A higher test score, strong first-semester senior year grades, or a new AP or honors course. These tangible data points show continued upward trajectory.
• New achievements: A recent award, a new leadership role, or completion of a significant project. Admissions officers want to see that your student has continued to grow since submitting the application.
• Deeper connection to the school: A meaningful new experience with the institution, such as a return campus visit, a conversation with a current student or alumnus, or attendance at a virtual information session. Specificity matters—explain exactly what about the school resonates and why.
• Specific fit: Articulate how the school’s programs, values, or opportunities align with your student’s goals in ways the original application may not have fully conveyed.

Keep the letter to one page or shorter. The tone should be confident and appreciative—not desperate. The Great College Advice team helps students craft these letters as part of their deferral and waitlist support services, ensuring the message is strategically positioned and well-written.

If My Student Was Deferred from Their Early Decision School, Can They Apply ED2 Somewhere Else?

Yes. Once a college defers (or denies) your student’s Early Decision application, the binding commitment is dissolved. Your student is free to apply Early Decision II to a different school.

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.

This is a genuinely valuable strategic option, but it requires careful thought—particularly for families focused on fit and financial outcomes. ED2 deadlines typically fall in early-to-mid January, which means the timeline between receiving a deferral (usually mid-December) and the ED2 deadline can be very tight. Your student needs to already have a clear second-choice school in mind, with supplemental essays substantially prepared.

There’s also a financial trade-off. Applying ED2 is another binding commitment, which means forfeiting the ability to compare financial aid packages from multiple schools in the spring. For families where comparing aid offers is essential to making a sound financial decision, ED2 may not be the right move—even if it could provide an admissions advantage.

This is exactly the kind of strategic decision where working with an experienced admissions counselor can make a significant difference. The team at Great College Advice helps families weigh the admissions probability, financial implications, and emotional readiness involved in an ED2 decision.

Does a Deferral Mean My Student Has No Realistic Chance of Getting In?

No—a deferral is not a soft rejection, and deferred students are genuinely reconsidered during the Regular Decision round. But it is important to set realistic expectations.

Deferred applicants are now competing against the full Regular Decision pool, which is typically much larger than the early applicant pool. The admissions rate for deferred students varies significantly by school and by year, and most colleges do not publish specific deferral-to-admission rates. In general, the acceptance rate is lower than the early round rate.

What deferred applicants can control is how they respond. A strong letter of continuing interest, updated grades showing an upward trend, and continued demonstrated interest all make a meaningful difference. Jamie Berger, veteran college admissions expert at Great College Advice, has seen through his years of experience that the outcome often depends on whether the student was genuinely on the admissions “bubble” versus being deferred as more of a courtesy. Some schools defer a large percentage of their early applicants—in those cases, the deferral pool is highly competitive. Other schools defer a smaller, more targeted group they seriously intend to reconsider.

Understanding which scenario your student likely falls into—something an experienced counselor can help assess—is essential for calibrating expectations and deciding how much additional effort to invest in that particular school versus focusing energy on other strong options.

Why Do Some Colleges Defer Students with High Financial Need from Early Decision?

This is a practical reality that families focused on college costs and ROI should understand. While it’s rarely discussed openly by colleges, financial considerations do play a role in early-round deferral decisions.

The ED system tends to discriminate against students with high financial need in subtle ways that are not easy to prove. If a student with high financial need is qualified for admission but not necessarily a clear stand-out, they may be deferred to the regular round to compete for an offer with everyone else. The reason? A high-need student costs the institution more money.

In practice, this means that colleges with limited financial aid budgets (typically need-aware schools) may fill early-round seats with full-pay students first, then evaluate need-based applicants against the broader Regular Decision pool. As Jamie has noted, Early Decision “is not just about filling the class with kids who want us—it’s about budgeting.”

This does not mean students with financial need should avoid Early Decision entirely. If your student is a genuine standout and the target school meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, ED can still be the right strategy. However, families should always run the Net Price Calculator for any ED school before applying, have an honest conversation about what the family can afford, and understand that the financial implications of ED commitments are significant.

How Should Our Family Manage the Emotional and Financial Stress of a Deferral?

A deferral can feel like being stuck in limbo and the emotional toll on both students and parents is real. The most productive response is to acknowledge the disappointment, then channel energy toward what your family can actually control.

As a member of the Great College Advice community, a parent offers straightforward advice to families facing this situation: “He should be emotionally prepared for the possibility of a deferral or denial. He should keep working on his other applications. Sprinting to write and refine multiple applications in two weeks over the holidays will add risk for errors and quality.”

One parent in the Great College Advice community shared their family’s experience after an ED deferral: their son spent most of his holiday break completing remaining applications, and while it put a damper on the holidays, it ultimately worked out well. The lesson: have those Regular Decision applications as close to finished as possible before early results arrive.

On the financial side, avoid making any commitments or assumptions based on the deferred school’s outcome. Continue researching financial aid options at all schools on the list. The deferred school is now one of many possibilities—not the only path forward.

Make sure your student’s college list includes a balance of likely schools, target schools, and reaches, so that regardless of the deferral outcome, there are options your family can feel genuinely excited about. A community member put it well: “Where you end up is not who you’re going to be for the rest of your life.”

Navigating a Deferral with Expert Guidance

A deferral is a pivot point, not an ending. With the right strategy—a well-crafted letter of continuing interest, a strong set of Regular Decision applications, and a clear-eyed understanding of financial trade-offs—your family can navigate this moment with confidence.

If your family needs hands-on support, whether it’s crafting a letter of continuing interest, evaluating an ED2 strategy, or simply making sense of what comes next, schedule a free consultation with Great College Advice today. Our six-counselor team has 100+ combined years of admissions experience, and our comprehensive packages include dedicated deferral and waitlist support to help your student make the most of every opportunity.

The post What to Do If Deferred first appeared on Great College Advice.

At Great College Advice, our team of six experienced college admissions counselors — with more than 100 combined years of experience — has helped students navigate the waitlist process at schools ranging from Ivy League institutions to flagship state universities. We have seen firsthand what works, what does not, and when it is time to redirect your energy toward the schools that have already said yes.

What Are My Realistic Chances of Getting Off a College Waitlist?

Understanding the odds is the first step in making a smart decision about whether to remain on a waitlist. The honest answer is that acceptance rates off waitlists are generally quite low — but they vary significantly from school to school and year to year.

“The realistic chances of getting off a waitlist depend on the school, because different universities will waitlist a different number of students and will also pull a different number of students off the waitlist,” explains Sarah Farbman, Senior Admissions Consultant and COO at Great College Advice. “However, in general, the chances of getting off the waitlist are not good.”

Farbman shares a telling example: “We looked at the University of Michigan, and that year they offered about 28,500 students spots on the waitlist. Roughly 18,000 chose to stay on the waitlist, and of those, approximately 955 were offered a spot — which means about 5% of waitlisted students got in.”

That figure is representative of many competitive schools. Community member Bonnie Hale, a veteran school counselor, reinforces this with additional data: “The percent of students who were admitted off of Cal Poly’s waitlist last year was 3.3%. More than ten thousand students were on the waitlist; they admitted 345. Chances are very slim.” She adds that at UC Berkeley, “more than 7,000 students were on the waitlist with less than 1% being admitted.”

Paul Wingle, a respected voice in the Great College Advice community, notes that families should “check the Common Data Sets, Section C2” for historical waitlist data at specific schools. He shares an example: “The last available report showed 3,010 applicants were offered a spot on the waitlist, 2,288 took a spot, and 40 were admitted.” The Common Data Set is a standardized reporting framework used by most colleges, and Section C2 specifically covers waitlist statistics — making it one of the most reliable sources for this information.

Despite the long odds, Farbman emphasizes that it does happen: “I have seen students get off waitlists. I have seen it happen three times in my career — three specific schools and three specific students. So it does happen.”

What Is a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) and How Do I Write One?

The single most important action you can take after being placed on a waitlist is writing a strong Letter of Continued Interest, commonly referred to as a LOCI. This is a concise, strategic letter addressed to your specific admissions officer that accomplishes two things: it reaffirms your interest in the school, and it provides new information that was not in your original application.

“The best thing you can do to increase your chances of getting off the waitlist is to continue to demonstrate interest in the school, and the best way to do that is by writing a Letter of Contined Interest,” says Sarah Farbman. “This is a letter to your specific admissions officer that affirms your interest in the school and articulates new reasons why you are interested.”

Farbman is emphatic about what a LOCI should not be: “Do not just repeat your application. They have your file — they already have all the information you gave them. It is important not to rehash that information, but rather to include new information, new updates, and things you did not tell them before.”

What to include in your LOCI:

A strong LOCI should contain specific, new reasons you are interested in the school, concrete ways the school aligns with your values and goals, and meaningful updates since you submitted your application. Those updates might include a higher test score, an improved grade, a new award or achievement, or a new experience with the school such as an additional visit or a conversation with an alumni.

Paul Wingle recommends using established resources to craft a compelling letter: “Your student should submit a LOCI providing updates on academic progress and any achievements or awards. College Essay Guy has free resources on writing a LOCI.”

What not to do:

“Send them a polite letter. Do not email them every day — that is not going to work,” Farbman cautions. The line between demonstrating interest and becoming a nuisance is one that students must respect. A single, well-crafted LOCI is far more effective than a barrage of communications.

It is also critical to follow the school’s specific instructions. “If they are saying, please don’t send us a letter, do not send them a letter,” Farbman warns. “But if they are not saying that, go send them a letter.”

Writing a compelling LOCI is one of the core services provided through Great College Advice’s deferral and waitlist support, included in all comprehensive and elite packages. As Farbman notes, “This is absolutely something we can help with. We help with this all the time.” Learn more about choosing the right college counselor for this level of support.

Should I Stay on the Waitlist or Move On?

This is perhaps the most difficult question families face, and it is as much a psychological decision as a strategic one. The answer depends on your emotional resilience, the strength of your other acceptances, and your willingness to live in uncertainty.

“The only reason not to remain on the waitlist is psychological,” explains Sarah Farbman. “If you are on the waitlist, you may be thinking all spring — maybe, maybe, maybe — when it might be better to dedicate that psychological space and that emotional space to just moving on.”

She frames the trade-off clearly: “Staying on the waitlist and checking your email every day is very stressful. And it impedes you from putting down roots and forming relationships at the school you have been accepted to.”

Veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger puts it even more directly: “Definitely do not hold your breath for the waitlists. Pick a school you will be happy with now, and if you hit that unlikely waitlist lottery, it will be a pleasant surprise.”

A Great College Advice community member, offers similar counsel: “Follow the specific guidelines of the college, check the Common Data Set for information on acceptance rates off the waitlist, and move on mentally to the colleges that have accepted you.”

If you do decide to remain on the waitlist, there is one non-negotiable step: “You definitely want to make sure that you have paid a deposit at a school that you have been accepted to and that you are excited about,” Farbman says, “because chances are that school is where you are going to go.”

What Should I Do While Waiting on the Waitlist?

Once you have submitted your LOCI and paid your enrollment deposit at an accepted school, the waiting game begins. Here is how to manage it strategically and emotionally.

1. Commit fully to your deposited school. Sign up for orientation, connect with your future roommate, join social media groups, and begin the mental transition. As one parent in the Great College Advice community observed, “The kids who fully committed to their backup school ended up loving it, and the ones who spent the whole summer hoping for a waitlist call were miserable either way.”
2. Keep your grades up. Colleges that pull students from waitlists will request your final transcript. A significant drop in grades could cost you an offer — and as Bonnie Hale warns, “I have seen offers rescinded after the student was admitted. I have seen students receive warning letters.”
3. Monitor deadlines. Some schools publish a specific date by which they will stop accepting students off the waitlist. “If they say they will accept you off the waitlist by July 15th, then July 16th, you are moving on,” says Farbman. Paul Wingle suggests following dedicated waitlist tracking threads on forums like College Confidential for real-time updates.
4. Use a personal email. One of our community members offers a practical but often overlooked tip: “Use a personal email and link the accounts. Colleges that track interest may do so through email and web link click rates. Also, waitlist activity can extend past the time access is available for high school accounts.”

Do Waitlisted Students Receive Financial Aid or Merit Scholarships?

One of the most common questions families have is whether students accepted off a waitlist receive the same financial aid packages as students admitted in earlier rounds. The short answer: it depends, but expectations should be tempered.

Jamie Berger is characteristically direct about merit aid from the waitlist: “Students admitted from waitlists do not usually receive huge merit. ‘Merit’ aid is a way of enticing students schools want more than others to accept based on institutional priorities. From other students, the school’s priority is the money.”

Paul Wingle provides additional nuance: “Big merit off of a waitlist is unusual, but merit is about yielding students the college really wants in the class. If the waitlist is unranked, they are reaching into it to find a student who meets an institutional need.” In some cases, a school may have placed a student on the waitlist as a form of yield protection — they assumed the student would choose a more competitive school. If that student demonstrates genuine interest through a LOCI, the school may make a strong financial offer to secure their enrollment.

For need-based aid, the picture is somewhat better. Most schools that meet full demonstrated need will extend the same need-based packages to waitlist admits. Some schools even provide information proactively — as Wingle notes from one school’s communication: “If you are a US citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient and have submitted all required financial aid documents, you will receive a financial aid offer via your portal sometime after receiving your waitlist decision.”

Families who are particularly focused on maximizing their college investment should understand that the waitlist inherently limits your ability to compare financial aid offers — one of the key strategic considerations discussed in our guide to choosing a college after being accepted.

How Is Being Waitlisted Different from Being Deferred?

These two admissions outcomes are often confused, but they represent very different situations with different timelines and different strategic responses.

Sarah Farbman explains the distinction clearly: “Deferred means you applied for the early decision round, and they are saying not yes, not no — we are going to read your application during the regular decision round.” She offers a memorable analogy: “Imagine it is currently January 14th, and your friend says, do you want to come to a party with me on June 7th? And you say, what? June? I don’t know. Don’t ask me now. Ask me closer to the time. That is basically what being deferred means.”

Being waitlisted, on the other hand, means that the regular decision round has concluded and the school is saying: “You are not accepted, but if we have room, we may offer you a spot.”

The strategic response for both situations is similar — writing a Letter of Continued Interest — but the timing and context differ significantly.

Deferral typically happens in December (from an Early Decision or Early Action round), and the student’s application is reconsidered alongside the regular decision pool in March or April. Paul Wingle notes that “a deferral puts the student in the RD pool and releases them from any ED or REA restrictions,” freeing the student to apply elsewhere.

Waitlisting happens after regular decisions are released (usually late March or April), and movement on waitlists may not happen until May, June, or even into the summer. “If you are deferred from your top choice school, the first thing you should do is read the information the school is giving you,” Farbman advises. “Sometimes schools will give you specific instructions. It is very important that you follow those instructions.”

For a deeper understanding of early application strategies and how deferral fits into the broader timeline, see our guide to application strategy and demonstrated interest.

When Do Colleges Start Accepting Students Off the Waitlist?

The timing of waitlist movement is one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of the process, because it varies widely and often drags well into the summer.

The primary trigger for waitlist movement is May 1 — National College Decision Day. This is the deadline for admitted students to pay their enrollment deposits. After May 1, colleges can assess how many seats remain unfilled and begin pulling from the waitlist if needed.

Paul Wingle explains the dynamics that drive this: as students commit to one school, they free up spots at every other school that accepted them. This creates a cascade of openings, particularly at large public universities. Jaye Salvin, a Great College Advice community member, describes this phenomenon with the UC system: “Remember that most of the kids who apply to UCs apply to all of them or a lot of them. So once students start accepting offers, more students will be accepted off of waitlists — things move around quite a bit.”

Some schools may continue accepting students off the waitlist well into the summer. “Some schools will publish a deadline by which they will stop accepting people off the waitlist,” says Farbman. Others leave it open-ended, which can stretch the uncertainty for weeks or months.

Paul Wingle also notes that some schools, like Carnegie Mellon (CMU), may have a “priority waitlist” that “requires an attestation that if you are admitted off the waitlist, you will attend.” This is essentially a binding commitment similar to Early Decision, and students should take it seriously.

Community member Tobi Adeyeye Amosun shares a real-world perspective: “I have a couple of friends whose kids have gotten in off the waitlist and they are having to make a decision within the week.” This underscores the importance of being mentally prepared — when a waitlist offer comes, you may have very little time to decide.

Can I Be on Multiple Waitlists at the Same Time?

Yes, you can accept a spot on multiple waitlists simultaneously, and there is no ethical restriction against doing so — as long as you have also paid an enrollment deposit at one school where you have been fully accepted.

Paul Wingle explains the rules clearly: “They have time. They can decide which of the schools that accepted them they like best and can deposit on or near May 1. They can also accept a waitlist spot. If they are admitted off a waitlist, they can withdraw from the other school. Getting off a waitlist is the exception to the ‘no double deposit’ rule.”

Robin Kaminsky, a college counselor and Great College Advice community member, reinforces this: “By May 1 they should choose a school they were admitted to and accept the offer of admission and proceed with an enrollment deposit and all actions to attend that school. If they are admitted off a waitlist, they can decide at that time whether to accept the offer and withdraw from the original school or not.”

However, being on multiple waitlists requires a clear-eyed assessment of your priorities. As Sowmya Athreya advises, “Get on a waitlist only if you would be willing to forgo your deposit to go there. It is best to assume the waitlist will not pan out.” Paul Wingle frequently asks a clarifying question that every family should consider: “When considering taking a waitlist spot, I think it is useful for the student to ask: would I drop any of the acceptances I have today to go to this school instead?”

The Psychological Side: How to Cope with Waitlist Uncertainty

The emotional toll of the waitlist is often underestimated. For students who have spent years building their applications, being placed in admissions purgatory can feel devastating — and the extended timeline only compounds the stress.

Sarah Farbman acknowledges this openly: “Being a senior in high school is hard, and getting ready for college is hard. It is an enormous psychological lift. And staying on the waitlist and thinking, oh, maybe, maybe — checking your email every day — that is very stressful.”

Her advice is practical and compassionate: “It is a judgment call. You know yourself, or if you are a parent, you know your kid, and you just have to make the wise choice and decide for yourself: I want to stay on this waitlist, or I need to move on and turn my focus elsewhere.”

As one community member shared: “My son applied early, got waitlisted, waited forever, and was eventually rejected. He picked Purdue and has loved it there.” This is a common outcome — students who fully commit to their deposited school often discover that it was the right fit all along.

Paul Wingle consistently encourages families to focus forward, not backward: “The thing about a waitlist is to be pleasantly surprised if an admission offer comes from it, but to focus on and prepare for orientation and move-in at a school that has accepted the student.”

How Can a College Admissions Counselor Help with Waitlist Strategy?

Navigating the waitlist process is one of the most stressful phases of the college admissions journey, and it is also one where professional guidance can make the most tangible difference. A skilled counselor brings experience, objectivity, and strategic thinking to a situation that is often clouded by emotion.

At Great College Advice, waitlist and deferral support is included in all comprehensive packages. This includes crafting a targeted LOCI that highlights genuinely new and compelling information, strategic advice on which waitlists to remain on based on realistic assessment of your candidacy, guidance on the psychological aspects of the decision, and help navigating financial aid implications if you are accepted off a waitlist.

As Farbman notes, “This is something we can help with. We help with this all the time.” The difference between a generic letter and a strategically crafted LOCI — one that articulates specific, new reasons for your interest and demonstrates genuine fit — can be significant.

Jamie Berger, highly acclaimed veteran college admissions expert, often shares stories of students who came to him in moments of uncertainty and found their path forward. In one case, he describes a student who “had naively assumed he would get into Chicago ED, then came to me in December in a panic to build a list and get help with last-minute essays. He was waitlisted at Northwestern but admitted to Emory, where he is likely headed.”

The lesson: a strong backup plan and expert guidance can transform a waitlist disappointment into an even better outcome.

Ready to navigate the waitlist with confidence? Contact Great College Advice to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced admissions counselors.

The post How To Get Off The College Waitlist first appeared on Great College Advice.

How Do I Schedule a College Campus Visit?

Scheduling a campus visit starts with the college’s website. Most colleges have a “visit” section within their admissions area where you’ll find all your options and a calendar of available dates and times. However, there are important details to keep in mind.

Not all colleges offer tours and information sessions on weekends. Those that do typically only provide weekend visits during select months, usually September, October, or April. This means you may need to plan around school schedules and take days off when necessary.

Beyond the standard tour and information session, look for special admissions events. Preview days, open houses, and admitted students days often provide richer experiences and more opportunities to connect with current students and faculty.

When scheduling, aim to include multiple activities in your visit. According to the Great College Advice Family Handbook, a complete visit checklist should include:

• Signing up for the school-sponsored information session and campus tour
• Registering for an admissions interview if offered
• Signing up to sit in on a class
• Setting up meetings with faculty or staff such as professors and coaches
• Arranging to see specific facilities relevant to your interests
• Scheduling a campus overnight if available
• Checking the campus calendar for events happening during your visit

How Many College Visits Should I Do in a Day?

The short answer: no more than two.

It might be tempting to pack your schedule, especially when traveling long distances. But cramming too many schools into a single day actually undermines the purpose of visiting. As the experts at Great College Advice emphasize, the more time you spend on campus, the more information you’ll gather and the better sense you’ll get of whether that college is right for you.

The most informative visits are those where you spend a full day, or even longer, on campus, from morning until well into the evening. When you rush from one school to the next, your experiences start to blend together. Weeks later, you might struggle to remember which library belonged to which school or what made one campus feel different from another.

Remember that a college is more than a collection of buildings. It’s a community of people with its own culture, traditions, and rhythms. Understanding that community takes time. You can’t learn it from a quick drive through campus or a 30-minute tour.

What Should I Do During a College Campus Visit?

A successful campus visit involves much more than following a tour guide. Here’s how to make the most of your time.

Start at the admissions office. Check in and fill out the contact card if you didn’t sign up in advance online. This officially logs your visit and begins demonstrating your interest in the school.

Attend the information session and tour. These provide the foundation of your understanding. Take notes and photos to help trigger your memory later—you will likely make mention of your visit on the application, so details matter.

Go beyond the official programming. Check the campus events calendar before you arrive. Sporting events, plays, concerts, and lectures give you insight into campus life that a tour simply cannot provide. One community member shared: “We visited and saw there was a basketball game that night. Going to that game told us more about the school culture than anything the admissions office showed us.”

Explore the surrounding area. Try local restaurants. Test the transportation options. Figure out where students find groceries, pharmacies, and other necessities. If your student will be living in this town for four years, understanding the community matters.

Meet with people in your areas of interest. If you’re interested in research opportunities, try to meet a professor. If you’re an athlete, connect with coaches. If you’re considering a specific major, visit that department’s facilities and talk to current students.

How Do College Visits Demonstrate Interest in Admissions?

Demonstrated interest has become a significant factor in college admissions. Schools track how much a prospective student has engaged with them to help predict whether that student will actually enroll if admitted.

As Jamie Berger, a veteran college admissions expert at Great College Advice, explains: “The first way to show demonstrated interest is to go visit and take an official tour—that definitely lets them know that you’re not just throwing darts at a wall of colleges.”

Why does this matter? Colleges care about their yield rate—the percentage of admitted students who accept their offer and enroll. By tracking demonstrated interest, admissions officers can better predict which applicants are likely to say yes. Some schools have even begun rejecting qualified applicants who haven’t shown any genuine interest.

Here’s what happens when you visit: the admissions office logs your attendance at the information session and tour. If you sign up for an interview, that’s additional engagement. If you email follow-up questions or send a thank you note afterward, that all goes into your file.

However, it’s important to understand which schools track demonstrated interest. As the Great College Advice Family Handbook notes, the most elite colleges often don’t consider it—they’re confident they’ll have high yield regardless. Many public universities also don’t track it, though some do care quite a bit. When in doubt, assume the school wants to know you’re genuinely interested.

After your visit, write a thank you note. Follow up with an email if you have additional questions. These simple actions show that you’re truly engaged in the process and want to learn more about the school.

What If I Can’t Visit a College Campus in Person?

Not everyone can visit every school on their list. Distance, cost, and time constraints are real barriers. The good news is that colleges understand this and have developed robust alternatives.

Many campuses offer excellent virtual visit resources. These may include:

• Virtual campus tours available on the website
• Virtual panels and information sessions
• Virtual interviews with faculty, students, staff, and alumni

While an in-person visit provides information that’s hard to replicate from afar, virtual visits can be a valuable substitute when necessary.

Jamie Berger offers this advice for students who can’t visit in person: “If you can’t do it—if your first choice is a school that you can’t visit—write them a letter so they know you’re not just applying to 30 schools blindly. Something short, though.”

Beyond that, he recommends engaging with everything the college offers virtually. “Once you have applied, you get into their college portals and they offer you opportunities to explore different programs. Just say yes to everything. These Zoom meetings, these Facebook groups—everything. And write to your admissions rep a very short, to-the-point email just so they know that you are genuinely interested.”

The key principle remains the same whether visiting virtually or in person: demonstrate genuine, authentic interest. Don’t just go through the motions. Engage meaningfully with the information and opportunities available to you.

What Questions Should I Ask on a College Tour?

The best questions aren’t ones you could easily Google. They’re questions that help you understand what daily life is really like at the school and whether it matches your priorities.

Before your visit, develop a set of criteria that matter most to you. What do you want in your college experience? Academic rigor? Research opportunities? A tight-knit community? A vibrant social scene? Strong career services? Once you know your priorities, craft questions that help you evaluate each school against those criteria.

Questions worth asking tour guides often relate to their personal experience:

• What surprised them most when they arrived?
• What do students typically do on weekends?
• How accessible are professors outside of class?
• Is it easy to get involved in activities even if you didn’t participate in them in high school?
• What are some fun traditions during the school year?

Questions about academics might include:

• How easy is it to switch majors?
• What undergraduate research opportunities exist?
• How large are typical classes in your intended major area?

Let your student take the lead. They should be the one checking in at admissions, asking most of the questions during the tour, and engaging with the experience. Parents taking over can actually work against the student’s interest.

When Is the Best Time to Visit College Campuses?

Timing your visits strategically can make a significant difference in what you learn.

The most important rule: visit when school is in session. A campus during finals, breaks, or summer feels completely different from one bustling with students going to class, eating in dining halls, and participating in activities. You want to see the campus as it truly operates.

September, October, March, and April are popular months when many schools offer weekend visits. Spring of junior year is ideal for exploratory visits—you’ll have time to process what you learned and still revisit top choices before applications are due.

Finding time for visits can be challenging. As one community member observed: “How do you find time for visits? Our daughter is on her high school dance team and does studio dance. Between practices, competitions, and camps, it seems impossible.” Many families find that strategically using school holidays, long weekends, and summer (for virtual visits or visiting schools in session on a different academic calendar) helps.

If you’ve already been admitted, “admitted students days” in the spring are particularly valuable. These events let you see the school with other accepted students, ask questions specific to enrolled students, and often include opportunities to sit in on classes and stay overnight in dorms.

Making Your Visits Count

Campus visits are investments of time, money, and energy. To get the most from them, approach each one with intention.

Before you go, research the school thoroughly. Know what makes it distinctive. Understand the programs you’re interested in. Have specific questions ready.

During the visit, take detailed notes and photos. Months later, when you’re comparing schools or writing supplemental essays, these notes will be invaluable.

After the visit, take time to reflect. Discuss your impressions with family. Compare what you experienced against your criteria. And don’t forget to follow up with the admissions office to thank them and ask any remaining questions.

The goal isn’t to visit the most schools—it’s to visit thoughtfully and gather the information you need to make one of the most important decisions of your educational journey.

For comprehensive guidance through every stage of the college application process, explore our complete guide to The College Admissions Lifecycle: A Guide Through High School.

Ready to Make Your College Visits Count?

Planning campus visits is just one piece of the college admissions puzzle. Our team of expert counselors can help you create a personalized visit strategy, develop your college list, and navigate every step of the application process with confidence.

Book a free consultation to discuss your college goals and learn how Great College Advice can support your journey.

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