High school students nearing graduation will soon have to make one of the biggest decisions of their lives: where to attend college.
What and When Is College Decision Day?
College Decision Day is the deadline for high school seniors to decide on their chosen college or university. It requires them to formally accept their admission offers by submitting an enrollment deposit.
Most colleges and universities use May 1 as the final deadline for students to accept their admission offers.
What Happens If You Miss College Decision Day?
Most colleges require a formal acceptance and deposit by the deadline. Missing it could mean you lose your spot and the college offers it to someone else. If you miss the college’s deadline, contact the admissions office immediately to see if they will still consider your enrollment.
However, not all schools are strict about a May 1 deadline, so check for those with later deadlines or that are still accepting applications or deposits.
What to Do If You’re Still Unsure About Your College Choice
If you need more time to decide, contact the admissions office right away. Some colleges may offer a short extension to the deadline.
Can You Change Your College Decision After May 1?
You can change your decision later, but there are some things to note. If you decline an offer after accepting it and paying a deposit, that deposit is usually non-refundable.
The new college you want to attend may let you enroll if it is still accepting students after May 1, but contact the admissions office as soon as possible to see if they will still take you. And if you have accepted financial aid, you may need to resubmit your FAFSA information to the new school.
What If You Can’t Afford the College After Committing?
If that’s the case, you can appeal for more aid at any time.
Contact the college’s financial aid office and ask about the financial aid appeal process, also known as a professional judgment review. You will likely need to submit documentation to show how your circumstances have changed. Some schools offer payment plans to spread out costs.
You can also explore other options to help cover tuition and expenses, such as scholarships, federal loans or work-study jobs.
Can You Defer Enrollment After College Decision Day?
You can defer enrollment after May 1, but only if the college allows it. Contact the admissions office as soon as possible and explain that you want to defer enrollment, along with the reason. You may have to submit a formal deferral form and pay a deposit to hold your spot.
If the college doesn’t allow deferral, you can withdraw your acceptance and reapply next year. That could mean starting the whole process over, including new applications and financial aid forms.
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