Welcome to summer! Students – I wish you relaxing and fulfilling summer breaks. Summer is an excellent time for rising juniors and seniors to get a jump start on the college admissions process. Over the summer, this blog will focus on key terms in the college admissions process, making the most of college visits and starting college applications! To get started, students should be reminded of their rights and responsibilities in the college admissions process.

Rights

• Students have the right to receive the following information from colleges: admissions processes and procedures, financial costs and financial aid opportunities, room and board costs and other policies.
• Students have the right to not be pressured by any college admissions officer. It is the job of admissions counselors to provide counsel on where they see a student being academically and personally successful.
• Students have the right to wait until May 1 (postmark date) to respond to an offer of admission and/or financial aid. (The exception to this is candidates who choose to apply early decision, which will be covered in next week’s blog.)
• Students have the right to accurate wait list information (if they are waitlisted). This includes: the number of students on the wait list, the number offered admission in the past and the availability of financial aid and housing for students on the list. Colleges must notify students of their waitlist decisions by August 1 at the latest.

Responsibilities

• Students have the responsibility to know and follow the admissions, financial aid, and housing policies and procedures for each college or university they choose to apply.
• Students have the responsibility to follow published deadlines.
• Students have the responsibility to seek assistance from their guidance counselor or other trusted advisor. It is especially important for students to follow their high school’s procedures when submitting college applications.
• Students have the responsibility to notify each college or university that accepts them of their decision by May 1. Students may only choose to attend one school, unless they are on a waitlist. If waitlisted, a student can accept the offer of another college; however, they must immediately notify the college of any changes in their plans.

For more information on rights and responsibilities, I encourage students to review the comprehensive information provided by the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Tags: College Admissions, Financial Aid