The weeks leading up to college decisions can feel strangely quiet after the nonstop pace of fall. Students have spent months planning, writing, revising, and imagining, and suddenly the process shifts from doing to waiting. It is entirely normal for this stretch to feel unsettled. The anticipation, the hope, the uncertainty – it all sits together.

If you are feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, you are not alone. This part of the journey can be emotional for families, but understanding how the decision timeline works and what each outcome really means can make the coming months more manageable. My goal here is to help you navigate decision season with clarity and perspective.

Rolling Admission: The Early Birds of the Application World

Some colleges don’t wait to review their entire applicant pool. Instead, they read applications as they come in and release decisions on a steady, ongoing basis. At places like the University of Oregon and Lawrence University, students sometimes hear back within weeks.

There’s also a curveball here. Not every school that operates this way labels itself as “rolling.” A handful call their process “Early Action,” yet still release decisions quickly and unpredictably. So if your student applies to one of these faster-moving schools, don’t be surprised if a decision pops up earlier than expected.

Early Decision (ED): Big Emotions, Big Impact

Most ED decisions come out during a short window between December 10th and 20th. Colleges often announce a specific date and time, asking students to check their portal at a set hour, and some share updates through social media.

Before results arrive, make sure your student:

Can log into the portal
Is checking email regularly
Understands that decision day often feels emotional, no matter the outcome

ED Results: What Happens Next

Admitted: Time to Celebrate and Then Take Action

If your student is admitted ED, Congratulations! This is a wonderful milestone. Enjoy it. Remember, though, that it also means your student should withdraw from all other applications because the ED agreement is binding.

Complete the withdrawal process promptly so those spots can open up for other students
Do this through portals when possible or by emailing admissions offices

There is one exception. If a student is admitted to the university but not to the specific program or major they applied to, the ED commitment usually no longer applies. This situation is uncommon, but it is important to understand the school’s admissions policy.

Denied: A Tough Moment but Not a Dead End

This outcome is difficult and might even be more challenging for parents than for students. It is normal to have a few hard days. Ideally, all other applications were completed before ED decisions were released. This prevents the stress of trying to finish new applications during an already emotional moment.

This is also when ED2 may become relevant. If your family planned ahead, an ED2 school can be a strong strategic option. Students may:

Submit a new ED2 application
Convert an already submitted Regular Decision application to ED2

Admissions offices are generally happy to make this conversion. The key is that ED2 should be part of a thoughtful plan, not a quick reaction.

Deferred: Often the Most Emotionally Confusing Outcome

A deferral moves the application into the Regular Decision pool. Students are no longer bound to attend, even if they are later admitted.

Emotionally, deferrals can feel especially difficult because they extend the uncertainty. Students may need to choose between:

Pursuing ED2 at another school
Waiting for a Regular Decision from the ED1 college

There is no single correct answer. The right choice depends on your student's goals, priorities, and comfort level with the unknown.

Early Action (EA): The Most Variable Timeline of All

Early Action results are unpredictable. Depending on the college, EA decisions may arrive in December, in January, or well into February. Some colleges spread out their releases by sharing ED results in December and EA results a month later.

This timing matters if your student is hoping to use an EA result to guide an ED2 decision. In some cases, the EA decision may arrive too late for that.

EA decisions also sometimes come out in waves. This can create unnecessary speculation about timing, but in most cases it reflects the administrative workflow rather than the strength of the application.

Regular Decision: The Final Stretch

Colleges are required to release Regular Decision results by April 1. Many share decisions earlier, particularly rolling schools, but most students experience the peak of decision activity in March.

If your student applied ED2, those decisions typically arrive about four to eight weeks before Regular Decision results. At this stage, expect the typical outcomes of admit, deny, or waitlist.

How Colleges Communicate Decisions

Most colleges send a short email telling students to check their portal for an update. The decision itself is usually not included in the email.

Students should:

Test all portal logins ahead of time
Check email frequently during release periods
Follow colleges on social media for updates
Have a plan in case a portal experiences technical issues

Deferral vs Waitlist: Similar Feelings, Different Realities

Emotionally, both can feel like limbo, but strategically, deferral and waitlist work very differently. Understanding the distinction helps families make clear and confident decisions.

Deferred

A deferral happens in the early round (ED or EA) and means your application will be reviewed again in the Regular Decision pool. You remain in active consideration and may still be admitted, denied, or waitlisted. Deferred students can also continue applying to other colleges, including ED2 if that is an appropriate option. Their final outcome (admit, deny, or waitlist) will come with the Regular Decision round.

Waitlisted

The admissions office has reviewed your application and found you qualified, but they could not offer a spot in the initial round – often because there weren’t enough seats available. A waitlist gives colleges flexibility to manage yield and class size after May 1. Because colleges can’t predict exactly how many admitted students will enroll, they may later turn to the waitlist to fill remaining seats. Being waitlisted is fairly common and does not mean you were uncompetitive.

Remember, a waitlist is an invitation, not an automatic placement. You must formally opt in (usually through a brief online form or the school portal) so the college knows you want to remain under consideration. If you don’t accept the spot, your application will not be reviewed again.

Planning Ahead: The Most Underrated Part of the Process

The smoothest decision seasons happen when students prepare before results arrive. A thoughtful plan and steady communication make everything more manageable.

By mid-December, I recommend that students have:

All other applications submitted
ED2 options identified with clear reasons
Supplemental essays drafted
A plan for converting an RD application to ED2 if needed

Families benefit from:

Talking openly about possible outcomes
Normalizing disappointment as part of the experience
Remembering that students often recover more quickly than expected
Celebrating every positive step along the way

Final Thoughts

Decision season is filled with anticipation and hope, and unpredictability and angst. It can feel intense in the moment, but it is only one stage of a much larger journey. Whether your student receives early good news, faces a setback, or spends time in the uncertain middle space, each experience helps them grow in resilience and clarity. You cannot control the decisions these colleges make, but you can manage your responses.

There is no single perfect school. There are so many places where your student can learn, find community, and discover new parts of themselves. Admission outcomes do not measure potential. They reflect a process with many moving pieces, most of which have nothing to do with a student's worth or future success.

Take things one step at a time. Celebrate the bright spots. Support each other through the harder ones. Trust that the right path will become clear, even if it looks different from what you imagined.

Good Luck, Everyone!

Making Sense of College Decision Season