Your senior has finally hit SUBMIT.

After weeks (or months!) of brainstorming, writing, revising, and checking every last detail, those Early Action applications are officially out the door.

Congratulations! That’s a major milestone.

But once the initial excitement wears off, many families find themselves asking the same question:

Now what?

The weeks following Early Action submissions can feel like a college admissions waiting room. Applications are submitted, decisions haven’t arrived, and students and parents aren’t always sure what they should be doing in the meantime.

Here’s what I recommend families focus on during this next phase.

1. Set Up and Monitor Applicant Portals

Submitting through the Common Application is only the beginning of the process.

After receiving an application, colleges typically send students instructions for accessing their individual applicant portals. These portals are where students can track application materials, review their status, and eventually receive admissions updates.

What your senior should do:

• Watch their email for portal invitations from each college.
• Check spam and junk folders regularly.
• Create their accounts promptly and keep login information organized.
• Track which schools have received required application materials.

Don’t Panic Over Missing Documents

When students first access their portals, they may see transcripts, test scores, or recommendation letters marked as missing.

That doesn’t necessarily mean something went wrong.

Admissions offices process large volumes of materials around application deadlines, and it can take time for documents to be matched with individual student files.

Continue monitoring the portal, follow each college’s instructions, and reach out to admissions if materials remain missing beyond the school’s stated processing period.

2. Double-Check Upcoming Application Deadlines

Just because your senior has submitted their first round of applications doesn’t mean every deadline has passed.

Some colleges have additional application requirements, while honors colleges, scholarship programs, and other opportunities may require separate submissions.

Now is a good time to review your student’s college list and confirm:

• Are there any additional applications or supplemental essays?
• Do honors programs have separate deadlines?
• Are scholarship applications required?
• Are there upcoming Regular Decision deadlines?

A little organization now can prevent an unpleasant surprise later.

3. Understand When Early Action Decisions Arrive

One of the hardest parts of the admissions process is waiting.

Early Action decisions don’t arrive on one universal date. Each university establishes its own notification timeline, and some schools release decisions in waves.

Many colleges notify Early Action applicants during December or January, although timelines vary by institution and application plan.

Encourage your student to check each college’s official admissions website for its current decision notification schedule.

And remember: refreshing an applicant portal every hour won’t make a decision arrive any faster!

4. Know What Admissions Decisions Actually Mean

When decisions begin arriving, your student will generally encounter one of three outcomes.

Admitted

Congratulations!

For nonbinding Early Action programs, an acceptance doesn’t mean your student must immediately commit.

They can take time to compare academic programs, financial aid and scholarship offers, campus experiences, and overall fit before making their final decision.

Be sure to check each college’s enrollment response deadline.

Deferred

A deferral is not a denial.

It means the college has decided to reconsider your student’s application during the Regular Decision process rather than making a final decision during Early Action.

While this can feel disappointing, your student is still being considered.

A deferral also makes the next few months particularly important. Students should carefully follow the college’s instructions regarding additional grades, updates, or other materials.

Denied

A denial can be difficult, especially when a student has invested significant time and hope into an application.

But one admissions decision doesn’t define a student’s abilities, potential, or future success.

Help your senior redirect their attention toward the colleges and opportunities still ahead of them.

The goal isn’t simply to receive an acceptance. It’s to find a college where your student can learn, contribute, and thrive.

5. Keep Senior-Year Momentum Going

After the intensity of application season, it’s tempting for seniors to ease off the gas.

But senior-year performance still matters.

Fall Grades Are Important

Colleges may review midyear grades as part of the admissions process, particularly when students are deferred into the Regular Decision pool.

Encourage your senior to maintain strong academic habits, stay engaged in challenging coursework, and finish the semester well.

Keep Track of Meaningful Accomplishments

For students who are deferred, some colleges allow or request a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) or an application update.

These updates can provide an opportunity to share meaningful developments since the original application was submitted.

Examples might include:

• A new leadership position
• An important community service milestone
• An academic honor or award
• An athletic achievement
• Significant progress on a project or activity

The strongest updates provide new information rather than simply repeating what was already included in the application.

Before sending anything, students should check whether the college welcomes additional materials and follow its specific instructions.

6. And Finally, Take an Exhale

Your senior has navigated one of the most demanding writing stretches of the college admissions process.

That’s worth celebrating.

Encourage them to reconnect with friends, enjoy their senior year, stay involved in activities they love, and give themselves a little breathing room.

There will be more decisions, more deadlines, and perhaps a few unexpected turns along the way.

But they don’t have to navigate every part of the process at once.

For now, celebrate what they’ve accomplished, stay organized, and keep moving forward.

And if your student needs help with upcoming supplemental essays, Regular Decision applications, or making their writing stronger, Total Writing Enrichment is here to help.