What to Do While You Wait for US Admissions Results

It’s been a couple of months since you submitted your university applications. After focusing on them for the better part of last year, you may think, “Now what?” What are you supposed to do until you find out to which university you have been accepted? Instead of counting down the days left for decision letters to start trickling in and thinking about the next steps, use this time productively. There’s still a lot that you can do.

Here are some tips to stay productive while you wait for US admissions results:

1)  Focus on your exams:

If you are sitting for your grade 12 final exams, push back all thoughts of admission results and focus on studying! Universities consider your final transcripts and in some cases, can retract your acceptance if they see a drop in your academics. If you receive conditional offers, you will need to maintain your grades or achieve high scores to meet your offer and confirm your place at the university of your choice.

2)  Stop checking and rechecking message boards:

We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘a watched pot never boils.’ This has never been truer. Scouring for information will only make the wait seem longer! Aside from this, your search can also lead you to hear multiple rumours and speculations about admission statistics and release dates, ultimately causing you more harm than good. This is more especially true f your university sends out results on a rolling basis. Some students may receive offers before you so remember not to get stressed; unplug and limit your time on message boards.

3)  Continue your extracurricular activities:

Remember all those activities that you put on your application? Keep focusing on them! This is also the last chance you have to represent your school and interact with your teammates, so make the most of it. If you find that you have some free time, explore a new activity—something that you’ve always wanted to try. Just because it can’t go on your university application, doesn’t mean you can’t explore your interests and who knows, you may find something new that you enjoy.

4)  Research universities to help you make an informed choice:

Since you have applied to several universities, chances are that you will be accepted into more than one. Utilise this time to think about why you want to attend each university and make a pros and cons list to make an informed decision once you get your acceptance letters. The best way to get more information, if you haven’t done so already, is to subscribe to the university’s newsletter and connect with any alumni or current students. If you are travelling to the US soon, take this opportunity to visit universities on your list to get a sense of what life is like on campus, attend any open days or take a virtual tour on their website or YouTube or attend a webinar.

5)  Make your summer productive:

If you aren’t planning on travelling in the summer before you head off to university, there is still a lot you can do to make your summer productive. Apply for an internship in your related major to gain hands-on experience or engage in social work and give back to your community. This is also a great time to spend with your friends and family, as come fall, you will leave the country and won’t see them for a while.

6)  Follow universities or admissions officers on social media:

Many universities post updates and statistics about undergraduate admissions and life at the university on social media, so make sure that you follow those to stay up-to-date about when you can expect your results and any new developments at the university.

Ultimately, getting accepted is a numbers game. Universities get thousands of applicants each year and stressing about when you will hear back won’t give you any answers soon. Be patient and confident and know that whatever happens, happens for the best. For those of you who are thinking of taking a gap year before attending university, read our blog post If you want help on how to choose between multiple acceptances, get in touch with us.