12 Dec Road Map for December: Seniors

At this time of year, seniors are in the midst of a transition: applications are wrapping up, early round decisions are arriving, and attention is starting to shift from applying to what comes next. If you’ve already received good news from an Early Decision or Early Action school, congratulations! For students admitted through Early Decision, remember that you’ll need to submit your enrollment deposit and withdraw any applications still pending at other colleges. If you’re waiting on a financial aid offer from your ED school, you can hold off a bit—insufficient aid is the only acceptable reason to reconsider an ED commitment, and appeals are sometimes possible with the right approach.

Of course, not all early news is positive and denials and deferrals can be painful. Give yourself space to process the news, but at the same time, be prepared to move forward if you have additional applications in the works. If you’ve been deferred, there may also be steps you can take to strengthen your candidacy, such as submitting updates or reaffirming your interest, depending on the school’s policies. As you finish up Regular Decision applications or consider an ED2 choice, now is the time to finalize essays and submit before deadlines get too close—and ideally before winter break starts, when school counselors and teachers are likely to be offline.

Once applications are submitted, continue to check individual college portals to confirm that all materials have been processed. Mid-year reports will also be sent after winter break, and colleges will be looking for continued academic engagement, whether they’re still reviewing your application or have already admitted you. Finally, don’t forget to thank the people who supported you through this process, especially your recommenders.

No matter where you are in the process, I hope you’re able to enjoy a restful break and start the new year feeling recharged. And if you need guidance at any stage, I’m always happy to help.