YES! You did it! You hit “submit” on your college applications. Take a deep breath. You deserve a pat on the back. All that hard work, all those essays, all those forms – DONE! But…wait. The college application journey is not quite over yet. 

Hitting “submit” is a big step, but there are still important things to do AFTER you send in your apps. Don’t just vanish and forget about it all. This is your post-application game plan. Your checklist for staying organized, following up smartly, and getting ready for those college decision letters to roll in.

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“Submit” Feels Great, But the Journey Isn’t Quite Over!

That “submit” button click is sweet relief. But it’s not the finish line. The post-application period is still important. It’s the time to:

• Stay Organized (Yes, Still!): Don’t toss all your college app info in a drawer and forget about it. Staying organized AFTER submitting is key to keeping track of everything.
• Follow Up Smartly (When Needed, Not Just to Bug Them): You don’t want to be a pest to colleges. But smart, polite follow-up at the right time can be helpful and professional.
• Get Ready for Decisions (Good and Maybe Not-So-Good): College decisions are coming! It’s time to get mentally and practically ready for those letters – acceptances, rejections, and everything in between.
• Keep Your Eye on the Ball – Scholarship Money Still Out There!: College apps are done, but the search for scholarships? That should keep going! Free college money is always a good thing.

So, “submit” is a big moment, but keep your momentum going. The post-application period is your time to stay sharp, stay organized, and get fully ready for the next exciting steps.

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Step #1: Double-Check Your “Sent” List – Make Sure It’s REALLY Sent

First thing, first: Double-check. Triple-check! Make sure those applications are REALLY sent. Don’t just assume they went through. Take these steps right after you hit “submit”:

• Check for Confirmation Emails: Most online application systems send you a confirmation email right away when you submit an app. Check your email inbox (and spam folder!) for those confirmation emails for EVERY college you applied to. If you don’t see a confirmation email, something might be wrong.
• Log Back In to Your Application Accounts: Log back into your Common App, Coalition App, or school-specific application accounts. Check the status for each application. Does it say “Submitted”? Or “In Progress”? Make sure it says “Submitted” for each school.
• If Anything Looks “Off,” Contact Admissions: If you don’t see confirmation emails, or if the app status looks wrong online, don’t panic. Just CONTACT the college admissions office right away. Politely ask “Can you confirm you received my application?” Better to check now than stress out later!

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Step #2: Stay Organized – Don’t Let App Info Get Lost Now!

College apps SENT. Time to toss all those papers, right? Nope! Keep your college app info organized, even AFTER you submit. Why? Because you’ll still need it! Keep organized by:

• Keeping a College List Tracker: Keep that spreadsheet or document where you listed all your colleges, deadlines, and requirements. You’ll still need to track deadlines for financial aid, housing, and decisions.
• File Away Confirmation Emails: Create a special folder in your email inbox (or a paper folder) to save all those confirmation emails. Easy to find if you need to check application status later.
• Save Copies of Your Essays (Just in Case): Save copies of your college essays on your computer or in the cloud. You might want to look back at them later, or even reuse parts for scholarship essays.

Staying organized post-application makes it way easier to keep track of everything you need for the NEXT steps in the college journey.

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Step #3: Email Watch – Keep an Eye on Your Inbox (But Be Patient!)

After you submit, email becomes key again. Colleges will often email you updates about your application status, requests for more info, or decision news. Keep an eye on your email, but also… be patient!

• Check Email Regularly (But Not Obsessively!): Check your email inbox (and spam!) every few days for college updates. But don’t check it every hour and stress yourself out. Colleges will email when they have news, no need to refresh your inbox 24/7.
• Read Emails Carefully: When you DO get college emails, read them closely. They might have important info or action steps for YOU to take. Don’t just skim them.
  Respond Promptly If They Ask for Something: If a college email asks you to do something (send more info, fill out a form), do it FAST. Respond promptly and politely to show you are on top of things.
• “Decision News” Will Come Later: Don’t expect to hear decision news RIGHT away after you apply. Colleges usually send out decision letters later, often in winter or spring. Be patient – the waiting game is part of the process.

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Step #4: Financial Aid Follow-Up – Don’t Let Money Slip

College apps are sent, but financial aid is not done yet! Make sure to follow up on financial aid too:

• FAFSA Confirmation: Make sure you get confirmation that your FAFSA form was processed correctly. Check your FAFSA account online to confirm.
• CSS Profile (If Needed): If any of your colleges use the CSS Profile (another financial aid form), make sure you fill that out too, and check for confirmation.
• College Financial Aid Deadlines: Check the financial aid deadlines for EACH college you applied to. Deadlines for financial aid can be different from application deadlines. Make sure you know each school’s financial aid deadline and meet it!
• College Financial Aid Portals: Many colleges have online portals where you can track your financial aid application status. Set up accounts on these portals and check them regularly for updates or requests.

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Step #5: Scholarship Search – Free Money Hustle Continues!

College apps done? Awesome! Time to relax? Well…almost. Don’t stop your scholarship search just yet! The search for free college money never really ends. Keep up your scholarship hustle:

• Apply for More Scholarships – Yes, Still!: Keep applying for scholarships, even after you’ve sent in college apps. There are tons of scholarship deadlines all through winter and spring. More scholarships = less loans.
• Focus on “No Essay” Scholarships Too: Feeling essay-ed out? Look for “no essay” scholarships that just need a simple application. Easy way to get more chances at free money with less work.
• Local Scholarships – Check Them Out Now: Local scholarships often have later deadlines than national ones. Now is a great time to focus on local scholarships in your community – ask your counselor for local scholarship lists.

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Step #6: Get Ready for Decisions – Prep for Good News, Bad News, and Everything In Between

College decisions are coming! Time to get ready – both your head AND your heart – for what those decisions might bring. Decision prep tips:

• Mentally Prep for ALL Outcomes: Not every decision will be good news. Get ready for all kinds of decisions – acceptances, rejections, waitlists. It’s part of the process. It’s okay whatever happens. Have a “Plan B” (and Plan C, D…): Don’t just fixate on your “dream” school. Remember you applied to a balanced list of colleges – reach, target, and safety schools. Have backup plans in mind and be ready to be happy wherever you end up.
• Celebrate the “Wins,” Learn from the “Losses”: When acceptances come, CELEBRATE! You worked hard and deserve to be proud. If rejections come, it’s okay to feel bummed. But don’t let it get you down. See rejections as learning experiences, not as personal failures.
• Financial Aid Award Review – Compare Offers: When acceptance letters come, financial aid award letters will come too. Review those aid offers closely. Compare offers from different colleges. Understand the real costs and your options for paying for college.

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Action Plan: Your Post-Application Power Checklist – Do It Now

Ready to take charge of the post-application period and stay calm and organized? Yes! Do these things right NOW:

• Double-Check “Sent” Apps: Right now, check your email for confirmation emails and log back into your app accounts to make sure everything is submitted for ALL your colleges.
  Create a “FAFSA Follow-Up” Reminder: Set a reminder to check your FAFSA account status in a week to make sure it’s processed okay.
• Schedule “Scholarship Search Time”: Block out time in your calendar each week to keep searching and applying for scholarships – keep that free money hustle going strong!

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Final Thought: Apps Sent, Future’s Coming – Stay Ready and Stay Positive!

College applications – DONE! Give yourself a HUGE pat on the back. You did it! Now, just stay organized, stay on top of things, and get ready for the next exciting chapter. The future is coming, and you’re ready for it – no matter what those decision letters say!

Need more tips on college applications, scholarships, or just how to survive this whole process? Cirkled In has your back—check out Cirkled In resources to help you through every step of your college journey!