Planning for Success in the Transition to College
April is the month where the final anxiously awaited college decisions roll in. Sometimes, students & families have spent so much time preparing for the admissions process, that what happens next has yet to come into focus.
Read on for our must know tips on finalizing your college decision & preparing for a successful college transition + a FREE webinar opportunity to join us live to take the guesswork out of this transition season–
1.Think through your decision with yourself and the adults who know you best.
At the end of the day, it can be easy for students to lose sight of the ultimate goal: preparing for life and learning in a college community where you will thrive in the next chapter of your life. Putting aside all the admissions results that can feel like wins and losses, now is the time to think about what really matters for you in the college you will call home. Not the ranking, name, or prestige, but what matters to you. As students hone in on those final choices, take the opportunity to visit in person, or engage virtual opportunities to connect with the colleges where you’ve been admitted. Talk it over with your family, and trusted advisors, and try to get out of the comparison game with friends and peers. Do compare financial aid or scholarship awards and make sure the finances work for your family, think through the academic options, housing options, and travel to your campus. If you ground in what’s important to you, you’ll make a great choice.
2.Deposit to ONE college by May 1st.
The national deadline for college deposits is May 1st. You must deposit by this date to secure your enrollment spot according to the steps the college communicates to you. For some colleges, this will include separate deposits for enrollment and housing. Note that while it is unethical for colleges to require enrollment deposits sooner than May 1st, some universities, especially large public institutions, fill their housing or honors programs on a rolling basis and space can be limited. Read all the fine print, and call the admissions office to clarify if needed. Note that all colleges in the US share a common database to track enrollment. Depositing to more than one institution is unethical, is easily discoverable by colleges, and can result in acceptances being revoked. It is critical that students and families make deposits to just one college or university.
And a note on waitlists: Waitlists are highly unpredictable. If you are accepting a spot on a waitlist, you will still need to make a deposit to another college where you have been admitted by May 1st. Plan to move forward with all of your enrollment steps there, and if you are offered a waitlist spot, understand that you will forfeit your deposit to the original college if you decide to withdraw and move forward with accepting the new offer at the waitlist college.
3.Plan for a smooth transition.
After all the time, effort, and planning that has gone into the admissions process, now is the time to turn your focus to setting yourself up for success in college. While there are classes to register for and plenty of items to buy for your dorm room, giving some attention to how a student will independently manage their schedule, coursework assignments, and daily responsibilities of college life, can make all the difference. Once the graduation celebrations are over, taking time this summer to intentionally think through the habits, routines and structures that will set a student up for success can launch young people into college life more confident, more prepared, and more ready to thrive.
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Untapped Learning who specialize in supporting students to develop exactly these skills. Learn more about their in-person or virtual Summer Boot Camp here and be sure to join us for a free public webinar on Tuesday April 4th to dive into planning for a smooth transition to college life. Join us, and spread the word; all are welcome!
Seniors, What’s Next?:
Finalizing your College Decision & Planning for Success in the Transition to College
Free Public Webinar presented by
The Best U & Untapped Learning
Tuesday April 4th
6 p.m. MT | 8 p.m. ET
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