How do colleges notify you about acceptance?

What's the usual way that colleges inform you when you're accepted? Do most schools send emails, or is there some sort of online portal? Just curious about what to expect as application season approaches.

The method of notification can vary by college and the type of application cycle (early action, early decision, regular decision, etc).

Many schools often notify via online portals. After you apply, the school will usually provide you with login credentials for their portal. This is where you can check your application status, and where some schools will post their admissions decisions.

Other colleges may send out acceptance alerts via email. This could be the actual acceptance letter or an email to check the application portal for updates. Note: if you have a strong spam filter, you may want to add the school's domains to your safe senders list.

Then there are some schools that will mail you paper acceptance letters, although this is becoming less common with the pandemic accelerating a shift towards digital forms of communication. Keep in mind the mail option usually comes after the initial notification via portal or email.

Remember that admission decisions can start rolling out as early as December for early action and early decision applicants, while regular decision notifications tend to come out around late March to early April. Make sure to check each individual school's policies and timelines to know when exactly to expect a decision.

And of course, while waiting for a decision can be nerve-racking, try to stay patient and keep yourself busy in the meantime. Best of luck with your applications!