How Do You Prepare for Decisions?

Applying to College
1

As decisions begin to come out, I’m wondering what other applicants do to prepare to check their portals or open that letter. Do you wait until the end of the day, or do you check obsessively throughout the day? Do you prefer to do it alone, or would you rather have all your friends and family around you for support? Does anyone have any rituals they’ve established during this admissions season for checking decisions?

For me, my top choice (UCLA) comes out tomorrow. I know I’ll be checking my portal constantly throughout the day and won’t be able to focus on anything other than it.

2

The motto I’ve been trying to follow is:

I usually open by myself and tell my family and friends afterwards.

3

I wait and usually just have my parents around. I don’t tell family and friends unless it comes up in conversation.

4

My friends and family usually know what day they will come out but I open them by myself and tell them after. If I’m home I check obsessively (not a good idea) Vandy decisions come out probably next Friday so I’m volunteering that day and I won’t check until I leave the event.

5

My son has only received one decision so far, but he just waited until the official time it was released and then opened it with us (his parents). That’s what he plans to do for the rest. There’s no point in obsessively checking before the official release time. And if he ends up being busy at school or with something else when one of the other schools releases its decisions, he’ll just wait until he’s done with whatever it is and then check (with us).

6

Ice cream . . . lots of ice cream!

7

I’m going to have a bucket of ice cream set up next to me for all the ones I’ll be at home for. The other ones I’ll check on my phone and try not to cry in public :stuck_out_tongue:

8

@hopefulperson - Honestly, I know the waiting is agony, but I’d pass on the phone checks, and check ALL your decisions when you get home. Good or bad news, it’s just not worth it.

Think about it, you check while you’re at school, find out you’ve been accepted, and jump up and down cheering. Meanwhile, three other kids check at the same time, and find out they’ve been rejected . . . the sight of you jumping for joy does NOT make them feel better!

9

Oh, I’m not planning to check at school for any of them. I’ll be out of the house at church when I get a decision tomorrow and I won’t be around high schoolers. I don’t think it would be good for my anxiety to wait TOO long, lol