National Candidates Reply Date

You're almost there... Here's a last To Do list to make sure you tie up all loose ends before the graduation celebrations begin:

• Go back and thank all the people who made this possible for you.
• Accept the offer of admission and submit a deposit by May 1 at the school where you will enroll.
• Inform all other schools where you have been offered admission that you will not be enrolling. Remember you’re holding onto someone else’s spot.
• Start getting to know the school you will attend for the next four years by forming relationships with classmates via social media.
• Complete financial aid documentation by the designated deadline.
• Make  arrangements to send your final transcript.

For more information about admission decisions, including your responsibilities in responding by May 1, see Chapter 17, “Notification and Making the Decision" in College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step.

Today is the day! Students must formally notify one college that they are accepting its offer of admission -- and seal the deal with a deposit check. Congratulations! But, of course, the school year and your college admission process are not quite over... You may still need to forward the results of your AP exams, deal with housing and even roommate selection at your chosen school for next year, and finish your senior year strong. Remember, acceptances are conditional and your entire senior year is important to colleges. For a good summary of the steps you will need to keep in mind beyond today's decision, check out the excellent May Checklist for Seniors at The New York Times' Choice blog. And we want to add one more item to that check list -- a warning against double depositing. Sending a deposit to more than one college to keep your options open is unethical and may result in both colleges rescinding your admission. See our recent blog post on double depositing here.