Youve Applied. Now What

Youve Applied. Now What After months of researching, going on college visits, writing application essays, and getting your applications in on time, youve done it! So now what? 1. Give yourself a pat on the back! Its a lot of work to apply for college, especially if youre applying to multiple colleges and universities. Youve invested a lot of time so far. Take a deep breath. 2. Triple-check everything. You most likely double-checked everything before you hit submit on your application, but I encourage you to go back once more and make sure youve done everything youve needed to do thus far and know whats happening next.  Check your application status page in myIllini to make sure we have everything we need from you to complete your application. At this point, youre probably playing the waiting game, waiting for your decision to be released. Mark those notification dates on your calendar (December 14th for Early Action and March 1st for Regular Action) and make sure you know how and when youll be notified! Apply through Coalition? Make sure you can log in to your myIllini account. That is the only place decisions will be posted. 3. Stay in touch. Check those emails! If were missing something from you, well let you know via email, so make sure youre checking your email for any notifications from us. We also understand that things may change after you submit your application-your spring semester schedule may change or you maybe youve re-taken the SAT or ACT. If so, make sure to let us know. In such cases, youll need to access the course change form on your application status page. This is where youll be able to update information regarding your application. Questions? Call us at 217-333-0302 or email us. Were here to help! 4. Come visit. If you havent done so yet, schedule a visit to campus! We have a variety of visits almost every day (Mondays through Fridays and some Saturdays, too). Looking to schedule a visit for the spring semester? Dont worry! Those dates will be posted on December 15th and you can sign up to come visit then. 5. Apply for Scholarships. If you havent done so, I highly encourage you to complete your FAFSA application now! Many awards are given to students on a first-come, first-serve basis so the sooner you can get it submitted, the better. Now is also a great time to be applying for local scholarships. Our Office of Student Financial Aid has a great list of places to look for scholarships and your high school counseling office most likely has a list of scholarships in your area to apply for as well. 6. Finish strong! Even though we dont ask for your senior year grades in the application, that doesnt mean we dont care about them! One of the best ways you can set yourself up for a great first year on campus is by finishing strong in your senior year classes. Stay focused and try to keep senioritis at bay as best you can! Hannah Admissions Counselor I grew up just 30 minutes north of Champaign-Urbana and am a recent graduate of Illinois. As a former Pathway student, I understand the challenges of adapting to life at both a community college as well as a four-year institution. Whatever you're wondering about, I'll help you out!