6 Things to Do After You Submit Your College Application

Written By Jesse McTigue

Congratulations! After hours of writing and editing essays, perfecting your activities descriptions, and adjusting text to fit word limits, you’ve finally submitted to your ED school and/or some of your EAs (with those Nov. 15 deadlines still looming).

Take a deep breath and give yourself some well-earned credit. Then exhale, refocus, and commit to these six things:

1. Check Your Email: Open All Emails From Every School and Create Admissions Portals

Within a week of submitting, you’ll receive emails from each school. Open and read them carefully—they contain instructions and links to create your admissions portals. You’ll need a username and password for each school, so record them in one place. Check your portals regularly, especially in the first few weeks after submitting.

Through these portals, you can:

  • Confirm all application materials were received

  • Fix any issues that may delay review

  • Submit new test scores from later test dates (ie Oct/Nov test scores that may not have been published when you submitted)

  • Track your admission decisions

2. Make a Plan for Your Remaining Applications and Deadlines (Meet With Me!)

Don’t take your foot off the gas. You’ve built momentum from your ED/EA submissions—keep it going. Let’s create a plan for your Nov. 15, Dec. 1, and January deadlines, balancing completion with Thanksgiving, finals, winter break, and extracurricular commitments.

3. Map Out Remaining Supplemental Essays Using What You’ve Already Written

This may seem obvious, but it’s easy to overlook. Many students start a new supplemental essay when they’ve already written a stronger version for another school. Before drafting something new, review what you’ve already written—you can often reuse or rework entire paragraphs or themes. After four or five supplements, repurposing is not only smart, it’s strategic. Students often miss these overlaps on their own, so let’s review them together.

4. Preview the Application Process for Cal State and UC Schools (Due Nov. 30 & Dec. 1)

For those students applying to UC and Cal State schools, you’ll need to complete their specific applications on the Cal State and US plastromrs, respectively.  Both use the A–G course reporting system, require no transcripts or letters of recommendation, and are test-blind (test scores are used only for placement).

The UC system requires four 350-word Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) selected from eight prompts, plus an expanded Activities List. Most students can repurpose Common App and supplemental essays for at least three of the four PIQs.
The Cal State system has no essays, but does require self-reporting A–G classes and activities. Plan time to familiarize yourself with both systems before their deadlines.

5. Stay Committed to Your Academics and Extracurriculars

Even if you receive early admission offers, colleges still require mid-year and final reports. Offers can be rescinded if grades drop or if your engagement changes significantly from what was presented in your application. The most common reason for a rescinded offer, however, is evidence of poor judgment—often on social media. Be smart, maintain your integrity, and stay focused.

🎧 Recommended listen: Admissions Beat Podcast – “Why Senior Courses Matter”

6. Keep a Healthy Perspective

Admission decisions will start rolling in mid-December, bringing both good and bad news. Remember: an admission decision reflects an evaluation of your application, not your worth as a person or student. For schools with an admission rate of 5–10%, over 90% of applicants will not be accepted. Keep a balanced perspective and focus on what you can control.

🎧 For perspective and insight:

Jesse McTigue
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