CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE

WHAT TO DO AFTER GETTING ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE

• Formally accept your admissions offer. Follow the instructions on your acceptance letter, email, or admissions portal. Make sure to accept no later than May 1 (National College Acceptance Day).

• Decline other offers of admission.
  Colleges want to know if you won’t be attending so they can offer your spot to another student. This can be as easy as clicking a box on the admissions website or emailing the admissions office.

  • • If sending an email, please feel free to use the below template:

      • • Dear [NAME OF COLLEGE] Office of Admissions:
          
          Thank you for your offer of admission. I have decided that I will not be enrolling at [NAME OF COLLEGE], but I am grateful for the consideration you gave my application and for the opportunity to join your college/university. It was a very difficult choice to make, and I'm thrilled that I had excellent options such as this one.
          
          Again, many thanks,
          [STUDENT NAME]

• Set up your college email account.
  Once set up, use it for all your college communications.

• Apply for housing (if you have not already done so).
  Decide if you will be living in a dorm or off-campus housing. Not all schools allow freshmen to live off campus.

• Check for college/campus specific scholarships and apply. Pay attention to deadlines.

• Review your admissions and financial aid offers
  Carefully review offers from each college who has extended an acceptance. Make sure the information in the admissions offer is correct. For example, have you been accepted to the term (fall, spring, or summer), campus, and academic department or program you expected?

  • If you received financial aid, make sure you understand the terms of any loan or scholarship you are accepting and that you understand how much you and your family will be paying out of your own pockets. 

• Follow your college on social media
  Join the Facebook group and Instagram account for your freshman class. Also follow the social media accounts of the admissions office and relevant academic departments and clubs so you don’t miss important announcements or events.  Tell your parents to join the parents Facebook group for the college.      

• Submit required health documents.
  Many schools will ask for your immunization record and a signed medical history form. 

• Ask your high school to send your final transcript to the college
  Request your final transcript by the due date (this generally occurs at the end of the year). 
  Don’t let your grades slip. Deciding that you've worked hard enough for 3 1/2 years and coasting in the second semester of your senior year could get your college acceptance revoked. It's not common, but it does happen.

• AICE grade transcript to the college (if applicable)
  Request a transcript of your AICE scores to be sent directly to the college.

• AP scores report (if applicable)
  Request your AP Scores Report to be sent directly to the college by the deadline.

• Dual enrollment transcript (if applicable)
  If you participated in Dual Enrollment, request official transcripts to the college.

• Register and attend freshman orientation
  Even though orientation might consist of one or more virtual events, you might still need to sign up to reserve your spot. Usually you are assigned an advisor after orientation.

• Meet with College Map Mentor advisor
  Go over the college mapping for your major. Find out what classes you may have taken at your high school or Dual Enrollment that transfer to your college. For many colleges, the first meeting with the advisor will happen around or at Freshman Orientation.

• Register for any placement tests
  There may be placement tests required. (Example: math placement test, chemistry placement test, etc). Placement tests are there to make sure you enter into a class where you may be successful. Also, be sure to complete any assignments from your college that you might receive. 

• Register for classes
  Your schedule may be predetermined by your college advisor and you may receive a schedule when you attend orientation.

• Purchase parking pass (if applicable)

• Familiarize yourself with critical resources
  Campus move-in process (if living on-campus), application for accommodations, review course syllabi. Know where you can find tutoring assistance, the writing lab, photocopying services, campus safety patrols/apps, etc.

• Obtain student ID
  May be distributed to you at freshman orientation. Some colleges are moving toward digital IDs.

• Purchase textbooks
  It is recommended you do not purchase textbooks prior to the first day of class. Why? You may drop/add a class, the professor may not use that book, you may find a free PDF version, or you may want to rent the book for the semester.

• Have a great first year! 
  Enjoy your time and make both yourself and your family proud.

COLLEGE PACKING CHECKLISTS

Both over-packing and under-packing are a worry for most new students, but this list will show you exactly what to bring to college.  The following list is a general College Packing Checklist to give you ideas of what you may want/need at college. Make sure to coordinate with your college and your potential roommate(s).  Click on the below image to print.