Wed, May 1, 2024 11:30 AM

Due to the delays in the FAFSA – many colleges have extended their deadline this year – some to May 15^th and others to June 1^st – and for those colleges that have not – shame on them!

Truth be told – May 1^st was once considered National College Decision Day and for some it still is – but then the Department of Justice sued and said colleges could not force students to make a binding decision by this date. However, there are plenary of colleges (except those extending deadlines due to the FAFSA debacle) that still expect to hear from students by May 1^st to lock in scholarships and admissions to their college in the future.  Why, because whether you like it or not – college is a business – and they are desperately trying to meet admissions numbers so they can balance their budgets.

So, what do you do if your student/family is still appealing to colleges for additional need based financial aid or merit money or your son or daughter is still on the fence on where they want to go? For seniors, this is one of the biggest decisions in their life up to this point and for some it can be a paralyzing process to officially commit to just one college. So many options, questions, and doubts can come up.

Just know that there is still time to decide. Worse case, students can contact the college admissions representative who has been communicating with them and request for an extension. But your student needs to be prepared to explain why they are asking for the extension – has an appeal for more financial aid or merit aid been submitted, are they waiting to hear from other colleges, or maybe exploring the idea of taking a Gap Year (more on this on a future post). By communicating this effectively with an admissions representative they can help you determine next steps that need to be taken. Please note, delaying making a final decision impacts other parts of the enrollment process too, like scheduling their college orientation date, locking in housing, etc. The longer students wait, the more likely they will get stuck with 8:00 am classes or Friday classes or the less desirable tower housing options on the other side of campus.

If your student has made their final college decision, congratulations! Now it is time to take the next steps of the process. This includes making a deposit, locking in housing, and attending an Admit and/or Orientation Day at their future college where they will schedule their first semester classes. Plus, mapping out graduation party plans and shopping for the list of things they will need for their dorm room. Don’t forget to have your son or daughter continue to actively research and apply for more college scholarships. At the end of the day, we want them to be happy with their final decision especially since the college will be their home away from home for the next 3 or 4 years!

Need some guidance helping your son or daughter make their final college decision or with appealing their financial aid or merit aid offers? Schedule a ZOOM Meeting with me today.

Need help with the College Admissions Process, Finding Scholarships, or with Financial Aid?

Schedule your Meeting with Dan Bisig – TODAY!