As a skilled mother in the college admissions process, here’s my warning – once your student is accepted although not yet committed, be ready for heavy-handed marketing tactics & “incentives” (using the age-old sales technique called the “Standing room only pitch” and also the “limited-time-offer incentive.”)
Expect to obtain emails, text messages as well as phone calls with incentives to obtain your student to commit once they're accepted.
This is my 4th child in three admissions seasons, and this is what I know:
1. Students have until May 1st to determine.
2. **Housing is guaranteed for freshman** (this is not true at all schools, if it's at the student’s school, make the most of it).
3. On or just before May 1st – “additional funding” tends to suddenly become available at various colleges (usually private) that aren't meeting their enrollment quotas.
Hold Out Till Decision Day, May 1st to Commit
If your student holds out and never accept an admissions offer till May 1st, he's the opportunity to be provided more income from colleges that actually want him.
May 1st happens when some colleges get in touch with their listing of accepted but not-yet-enrolled students offering more funding.
My oldest was unexpectedly offered an additional $2,000 per year renewable from one college – along with a whopping additional $4,000 per year renewable scholarship from another college – just around the time of Decision Day.
Of course the likelihood of on offer more income from the college depends upon some factors beyond your control – the college's available funding as well as their enrollment yields. However, you can control whenever you commit!
Consider the tactic of staying “on the market” for some time – even though you know where you're going to enroll.
You've got guaranteed acceptance through May 1st, and if you also have guaranteed housing, there's hardly any disadvantage to waiting. But there could be a significant financial upside for waiting.
College Acceptance vs. Enrollment
Remember, with so many students accepted to sometimes on the dozen colleges, schools need to take out all the stops to obtain students to actually enroll in their college versus another.
The power dynamics shift after you're accepted, yet uncommitted.
THEY may need YOU a lot more than you need them! Particularly if they do not come with an extensive waitlist to drag from. It will likely be very interesting to determine how all this plays out.
**Disclaimer: Freshman housing was guaranteed at each school that my kids happen to be accepted to – but always double-check with your personal college simply to make sure their housing is not actually “while supplies last?**