What happens if you don't get in during regular decision?

I'm feeling kind of anxious about the possibility of not getting into any of the schools I apply to during the regular decision round. What are my options if that happens, and how should I prepare for this possibility?

There's no harm in thinking about contingency plans in the event that things don't go as hoped. A couple of options to consider include:

1. Community College: If you don't get accepted into a 4-year college, one common route is attending a community college first. You can earn credits (often at a much lower cost), improve your GPA if necessary, and possibly reapply to the same four-year colleges or transfer to another after completing your associate's degree or after a certain number of credits. Be sure to check each college's transfer policies.

2. Gap Year: Another option is taking a gap year. This gives you time to polish up your application, gain some life or work experience, and then reapply to colleges during the next application cycle. During this time, you might decide to do volunteer work, get a job related to your intended major, or intern in a field you're interested in.

3. Rolling Admissions Schools: Some schools have what's called 'rolling admissions', which means that they continue to accept applications until all spots are filled. While many deadlines will have passed by the time regular decision results come out, there will still be colleges that accept applications.

4. Reevaluation of Schools: Sometimes not getting in anywhere you applied indicates that your college list was not well balanced and did not include enough safety schools. This can be a learning experience for the next round of applications. You would want to aim for a mix of reach, match, and safety schools based on your academic profile.

5. Reapply: If you're really set on the schools you applied to, you can take a gap year to strengthen your application and reapply next year. You might spend this time improving scores (if the schools you're interested in are not test-blind), pursuing extracurricular activities, or gaining work experience.

The key is to stay flexible and know that there are always options available. It's good to hope for the best but also prepare for various outcomes.