Why is my college application taking so long?

With other types of college decisions, you may not hear back as quickly because colleges set different decision timeframes, such as late winter for early decision and early action, or spring for regular decision. Depending on when in the application window you apply, it could be a few months before you hear back.

How long does it normally take to hear back from a college application?

It's not unusual for a college's application process to take four to six weeks. Colleges that have an application portal allow students to go online to check the status of their applications at any time.

Why is my college application still under review?

Hi there, It means that your application is under review :) i.e., they are in the process of looking at it, as well as at other applications and deciding which ones to move forward with. Give it another week or two and you'll probably hear back from them in this time.

Why haven't I heard from my college application?

Admissions offices and those who work there are often dealing with a significant volume of applications and paperwork. This is something to bear in mind when you don't hear back. Patience is the name of the game in this case, as it's likely your application is one of many being evaluated and processed.

What are the early signs that you have been accepted into a university?

College Admissions: Inside the Decision Room

How long does it take for a college to accept or reject you?

The date by which you apply will vary by your application plan. If you apply under an earlier plan, you'll probably get your decision earlier, too. But in general, it usually takes admissions offices 1-2 months to return your admissions decision.

Do colleges let you know if you're not accepted?

Colleges send out emails to applicants, but they usually don't contain an acceptance or nonacceptance letter. Instead, the email you receive is likely going to direct you to the college's online application portal. Today, most colleges have an online portal where students can check the status of their applications.

What happens if no college accepts you?

Know that you have options: looking at other schools, enrolling in a community college, taking a gap year, or looking for a job. Whatever path you choose, there's no reason you can't transfer schools or reapply next year.

What does it mean when a college takes too long to reply?

Sometimes schools can take longer than expected to release a decision, or they might put students on a waitlist. Waiting to hear from a target school can offer an opportunity for students to research or apply to other schools.

How long do colleges keep rejected applications?

Many colleges keep records of past applicants, at least for a year or two, and some will ask outright on the application if you've applied to them before.

What does it mean if your application is under review for a long time?

Under review simply means you are still being considered. You have not been hired and haven't been eliminated from consideration.

Can an application under review mean rejected?

Can an application under review mean rejected? No, it means just that the your application is under review.

What is the difference between under review and in progress?

In progress means your application is under process and you are not rejected if you have given any round of interview. Under review could be if they are verifying your application status.

Do rejection letters come first?

“Do universities send rejection letters first?” No. Remember that, at the end of the day, universities do not know for certain who will accept and who will not. So they generally want to get acceptances for their offers before they send rejections.

How long do colleges look at each application?

Every admissions office has a goal for the number of essays that must be read during any given week. However, college admissions officers and admission readers may read approximately 50 applications per day, spending approximately 15 minutes per application.

Can I email a college about my application status?

If the acceptance notice date has passed and you haven't heard anything, then go ahead and email. Be police and concise. Admissions offices are incredibly busy. “Interest in university” has nothing to do with emailing the university about the application status.

Should I email the college if I haven't heard back?

Don't wait more than three weeks to contact colleges if you have not received a confirmation. If you haven't received a response, call or email the admissions office to check your status. You can also check the application status link on their websites.

Does a late admission decision mean rejection?

Colleges defer students because they are not ready to make a final decision, may have had a large number of early applications or may expect a large number of applications in the Regular Decision round and want to keep spots open for the right candidates. It does not mean an automatic rejection at all.

How many colleges should you apply too?

In general, most students apply to between 8 and 12 colleges. This is a good range to aim for, provided that the applications you submit represent a broad variety of colleges. Ideally, you want to apply to at least two safety, four target, and two reach schools.

Why do top students get rejected?

Admissions officers look beyond academic standing to make tough rejection decisions. Sept. 12, 2023, at 11:44 a.m. Poor fit and lack of demonstrated interest are among the common reasons college applications are rejected.

Will colleges reject you for being too good?

While there is some anecdotal evidence that overqualified students get rejected, these students aren't usually turned down because of their better-than-average grades or test scores. Most likely, the overqualified student isn't the right fit for a school or they haven't shown enough interest to admission officers.

Can you apply to the same college twice after being rejected?

In most cases, yes! You can usually reapply to a college after being rejected. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, so you will want to ask the admissions office about their procedures for reapplying before potentially wasting your time on another application.

Who decides if you get accepted into college?

An admissions committee is a group of people who review your application and decide whether you'll be a good match for their school.

Can you ask a college why you didn't get accepted?

You can ask, but they won't answer — at least not with a specific reason. For one thing, it's a group decision of an admissions committee, so there are actually numerous reasons, and many were unstated even to other members of the committee.

How do you follow up on a college application?

If you need to follow up on your college application for any reason, you should reach out to the undergraduate admissions office or department of the school in question. You can usually find a phone number, email, chatbot, or contact form right on the department's website.