NEXT MOVES
The first thing you will definitely do is to celebrate once you have been accepted. Take that moment and reflect on that major achievement and feel good about it.
You could follow this by following the social media accounts of the school or schools you have been accepted into. This is important because sometimes schools communicate through these platforms, and you do not want to miss out on anything. And yes, you can also update your instagram bio. If you cannot clap for yourself, who will?
Read through your financial aid award letter to understand the terms and conditions of the offer before accepting it. It is important to do this keenly in order to make well-informed decisions. If you do not understand some parts, do not shy off from emailing the financial aid offices for clarity. This will save you a lot from making blind decisions that you may regret in the future. Assuming you did not read through your offer, and you just accepted it, you may realize that your financial aid award entailed a student loan later on in life! Imagine a scenario where you have just gotten your first job, and you realize that you have a student loan to offset. That is definitely going to be a rude shock to you! And student loans are not so good, they may cripple your financial progress sometimes.
If you feel like the financial aid award you have gotten is not enough, you can go ahead and appeal. Ask questions from people who have done this before to inquire how you are supposed to go about it.
It is important to sign up for virtual campus events such as advising meetings, club meetings and even virtual campus tours. Attend the International Students’ Online Orientation as well. You will realize that all the information you get from these sessions will prove to be very helpful when navigating through campus life. Moreover, you will be able to connect with future classmates and even dorm mates on some of these events. They are worth every second of your time.
School websites only publish what they want you to hear. They will only post the good things about the school. If you really want to get to know what the school is like, then ask students with lived experiences in the school. They will be more realistic with you. Go to those social media pages and look up for students who have gotten into the schools and ask them what their experiences look like. That way, you will have a little touch with reality. The experiences may vary from person to person, but be assured that you will get a hint of what it is like to be a student in a particular school.
Lastly, do your own research on the internet. Go to the school’s website and find out things about the school. Read the schools’ magazines and other publications. Go to youtube and watch videos made by college youtubers in those schools. You will get a better picture of what life looks like in a particular school. You will learn a lot of things by just typing a line of text on the search bar.
Before the May 1st deadline, remember to make a decision and commit to a school of your choice. Do your thorough research on all the schools you have been accepted into and make the best decision. One of the worst feelings a person can possibly live with is regret.