What exactly happens on college Decision Day?

I'm trying to figure out what happens on Decision Day. Are all college decisions released at the same time, or is it more like a period where decisions are finalized? How should I prepare for that day?

College Decision Day, technically named National College Decision Day, is May 1st every year and it's the deadline by which most high school seniors must choose the college that they will attend and commit by sending in their deposit. However, it appears that you might be referring to a period where most colleges release their decisions, usually in late March or early April.

The period leading up to College Decision Day when decisions are being released by colleges is not a uniform process. The timeline can honestly be a bit chaotic. Different colleges have different decision release dates, and they don't all release at the same time on their respective dates. Some may reveal decisions in waves while others may release decisions all at once, depending on the college's preference.

By this stage in the application cycle, most of what you can do is wait. It's a stressful time, no doubt, but it helps to have a support system around you, be it family or friends, who understand what you're going through. Stay organized and keep track of when each college you've applied to normally releases decisions.

Once the decisions have been released and you have your acceptances, rejections, and possible waitlist notifications, you will need to make your final decision about which school to attend. This will be the school to which you send in a deposit by May 1st. As you approach this date, you'll want to carefully consider all aspects of your prospective colleges: programs, campus life, location, financial aid, and other factors that are important to you.

But remember, regardless of the outcome, it's essential to keep in mind that college acceptances do not define your worth or predict your future success!