What to do After Submitting Early College Applications

December 6, 2023

November 1st is when the vast majority of early college applications are due. Hopefully you have taken advantage of early application pools and sent as many early applications as possible.

After submitting your early applications, the question is: what now? Is there anything else you need to do after you’ve submitted your applications? Or can you just relax and stop thinking about college admissions for a second?

Unfortunately, you’re not quite done yet. There are still a few things that need to be checked on before you can truly relax.

Let’s go over everything you need to know so that you can make sure that you’ve got it all covered.

Check Your Portals

After sending an application to a college, whether in the early or regular pool, you will receive access to the college’s online application portal. This is where you will check the status of your application. Usually, portals will have a checklist of items that you need to complete. It is critical to ensure that every item on the checklist has been completed. If a college is missing any part of your application they will not review it.

You will get access to the college’s portal via email a few days after submitting your application. Make sure to check your email every day until you get access. Once you’re in the portal, look through everything carefully and double check that the college has everything they’ve asked for.

This may include test scores, residency declarations, supplemental essays, honors program applications, scholarship applications, or any other special elements.

Ultimately, it is up to you to make sure you are totally familiar with the college’s admissions requirements. So if you’re not, go on their website (or the portal if you have access) and double check that you’ve taken care of everything.

Submit Test Scores, When Applicable

Standardized test scores have become a rapidly changing landscape. Some schools require you to send them, some give you the option, and some refuse to consider them. It’s important that you’re familiar with the college’s testing policy. If they give you the option (or require you) to submit test scores, make sure that you have completed this.

Check to see if they allow you to “self-report” scores, or if they require you to send official results. If they allow you to self-report, you may have already included them in your Common App. If not, there should be an area on the portal for you to self-report scores. If the require official results, be sure to send them directly from your College Board or ACT account. Keep in mind that if you do this, it will cost some money and take a few days for the scores to be sent to the college. Ideally you will have done this a few days before the deadline if submitting official scores.

Honors Programs & Scholarships

Sometimes colleges will put the application for honors programs and scholarships on their portals. It isn’t the same for every school, so you’ll have to check on a case-by-case basis. If you are planning on applying to either of these, make sure you check if the application is on your portal or elsewhere.

Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, and More

It is the responsibility of your high school to send transcripts and letters of recommendation to the colleges you have applied to. Nonetheless, it is important that you are checking to make sure your college has received them. If not, it’s time to call/email your school counselor and ask for an update. Usually there are other documents that the school needs to send as well, like your counselor recommendation and your mid-year report. Keep in constant communication with your school counselor about these items.

Other Elements

Every college is unique. We can’t possibly cover everything you might require in one newsletter. Always double check the requirements for the individual colleges you are applying to. This will ensure that you are aware of everything they need from you. Sometimes you will need to self-report all of your high school grades, for example.

Work On Regular Applications (Or Early Decision 2)

Now that you’ve checked to make sure that you early applications really are complete, you can keep working on your regular applications if you haven’t finished them yet. Try to get ahead as much as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit.

You might also consider an Early Decision 2 school in case your top choice doesn’t work out. This is a great strategy to increase your chances of admission compared to the regular pool.

If you’d like help with any part of the college admissions process, reach out to us at info@AmericanCollegeCounselors.com.

Best of luck!

American College Counselors

P.S. We offer a number of services, including essay editing, graduate school advising, and individual coaching to achieve academic and career goals. Call or email us to learn more.

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