How does the college enrollment process work?

I'm a junior starting to think about where I might want to go to college, and I'm curious about how the enrollment process works after you're accepted. What steps do I need to follow, and are there specific deadlines?

The college enrollment process usually runs as follows, though exact steps and timelines can vary by school, so always refer to the guidance provided by your specific college:

1) Receiving the Acceptance: Once you receive your acceptance from a college, they'll typically send some initial information along with it. This might include: instructions for setting up a school-specific email and portal account, an overview of what comes next, and your official acceptance letter.

2) Making the Decision: Following your acceptance, you'll need to make your decision on whether or not you would like to attend. You typically have until May 1st (known as National College Decision Day in the US) to formally make this decision.

3) Paying the Enrollment Deposit: If you decide to attend, you will have to make an enrollment deposit to secure your spot. This is typically non-refundable and ranges in amount.

4) Registering for New Student Orientation: Most schools will require incoming students to attend an orientation before the start of the semester. This generally includes course registration, campus tours, informational sessions, and a chance to meet your peers and faculty in your chosen major.

5) Arranging Housing and Meal Plans: You’ll likely need to sign up for college housing unless you’re planning to commute or live off-campus. Similarly, you may also need to choose a meal plan if you’ll be eating on campus.

6) Completing Financial Aid Paperwork: If you applied for financial aid, you'll need to complete any outstanding paperwork to finalize your financial aid package.

7) Submitting Health and Immunization Records: Many colleges require you to submit health and immunization records before you move onto campus.

8) Arranging for Final High School Transcript to be Sent: Make sure your high school sends over an updated transcript that includes your final grades. Your college will want to confirm your final grades and that you graduated.

9) Arriving on Campus: Congratulations! You’ve made it through the college enrollment process and now you get to embark on your college journey.

Remember to keep track of the deadlines for each of these steps as they can differ between schools.