You've submitted your Early Decision or Early Action application. The essays are polished, the recommendations are in, and you've finally clicked "submit." After months of preparation, you might expect to feel relieved. 

Instead, you find yourself checking your applicant portal three times a day, rereading your essays for mistakes, and wondering whether there's anything else you could do to improve your chances.

The weeks between submitting an early application and receiving an admissions decision can feel strangely unproductive. But while you can't control what happens inside the admissions office, you can use this time to strengthen your overall college application strategy.

The key is knowing what deserves your attention, what can wait, and what you should stop worrying about altogether.

What Happens After You Submit an Early Decision or Early Action Application?

Once you've submitted your application, the admissions office begins processing and reviewing your materials. Depending on the institution, this may involve verifying your transcript, matching recommendation letters, reviewing test scores, and evaluating your application through one or more rounds of admissions review.

You generally won't receive updates about each stage of this process. Your applicant portal may show whether required documents have been received, but it won't reveal how admissions officers are evaluating your candidacy. For example, Yale's admissions office explains how applicants can use their Admissions Status Portal to track application materials and receive updates. If something is missing, follow the university's instructions to resolve it. Otherwise, resist interpreting every portal change as a clue about your admissions outcome.

An unchanged applicant portal doesn't mean your application isn't being reviewed.

Keep Working on Your Regular Decision College Applications

The single most productive thing you can do while waiting for early decisions is continue preparing your Regular Decision applications.

Many students make the mistake of assuming they'll be admitted to their first-choice school and putting everything else on hold, but even exceptionally qualified applicants can be deferred or denied, particularly at highly selective universities.

With many Regular Decision deadlines falling in early January, waiting until mid-December to begin supplemental essays creates unnecessary pressure. Use the weeks before decisions arrive to research your remaining colleges, draft school-specific essays, confirm application requirements, and finalize your college list. You don't necessarily need to submit every application immediately. If you're admitted through binding Early Decision, you'll generally withdraw your other applications, but having them ready means you can respond to any outcome without scrambling during winter break.

The Common Application provides resources for tracking deadlines and requirements across participating institutions.

Maintain Strong Senior-Year Grades After Applying Early

Submitting an early application doesn't mean your academic performance stops mattering.

Colleges may request midyear grades, particularly if you're deferred into the Regular Decision pool. Even after admission, universities generally expect students to maintain the academic standards demonstrated in their applications. For example, Harvard's application requirements explain the role of midyear and final school reports in the admissions process. Continue taking your coursework seriously, preparing for assessments, and engaging with your teachers.

You don't need to become a completely different student during senior year. Consistency matters more than trying to manufacture a dramatic academic improvement in a few weeks.

Should You Send College Admissions Updates While Waiting?

Students sometimes worry that remaining silent after submitting an application signals a lack of interest. In most cases, that's not true.

Admissions offices already have substantial information about your academic background, activities, and interests. Sending frequent emails or minor updates is unlikely to improve your application. However, a genuinely significant development may be worth reporting if the institution accepts updates. Examples might include receiving a major academic award, completing substantial research, or achieving an important milestone in an extracurricular activity. Before sending anything, check the university's policy. Some institutions accept updates through applicant portals, while others discourage unsolicited materials. 

The general rule is simple: Share meaningful new information when permitted, but don't create updates simply to remain visible.

Prepare for an Early Decision Deferral Without Expecting One

Most students naturally focus on the possibility of acceptance. However, preparing for a deferral can make the admissions process considerably less stressful.

A deferral means your application will receive further consideration during Regular Decision. It isn't an acceptance, but it also isn't a rejection. Before decisions arrive, familiarize yourself with your early college's deferral policies. Some universities invite additional updates or letters of continued interest, while others have specific procedures. For example, MIT automatically reconsiders deferred Early Action applicants and provides instructions for submitting midyear grades and updates.

You don't need to write a letter of continued interest before receiving a decision. Simply understand what the institution expects so you can respond appropriately if necessary.

Meanwhile, ensure that your remaining college list includes a thoughtful balance of reach, target, and likely schools.

Avoid Common Mistakes While Waiting for College Decisions

Waiting can encourage behaviors that feel productive but accomplish very little.

Repeatedly checking your applicant portal, searching online forums for admissions rumors, or comparing your qualifications with other applicants won't change your outcome. Neither will sending admissions officers unnecessary emails or trying to interpret the timing of interview invitations. Be particularly cautious about social media speculation. Students often share theories about application portals, decision release patterns, or supposed admissions signals without reliable evidence.

If you need information, consult the college's official admissions website rather than relying on anonymous discussions. It's also worth remembering that admissions decisions reflect institutional priorities and the broader applicant pool, not simply a ranking of individual accomplishments.

The National Association for College Admission Counseling offers resources to help students and families understand the admissions process and make informed decisions.

Use the Waiting Period to Reassess Your College List

The weeks after submitting early applications also provide an opportunity to reconsider your remaining options.

Perhaps you've discovered a new academic program, become more interested in a particular location, or realized that financial aid will play a larger role in your final decision.

Revisit your college list with these priorities in mind: 

• Are you genuinely excited about every institution? 
• Do you have enough realistic options? 
• Have you researched academic offerings, campus culture, and affordability?

If you're considering Early Decision II as a potential alternative, this is also a good time to investigate participating colleges and their deadlines. However, remember that ED2 is binding. It should only be used for a genuine first-choice institution, not as a reaction to disappointing early results.

Don't Forget to Enjoy Your Senior Year

College admissions can become all-consuming, particularly during the weeks before early decisions, but your senior year is more than an application process.

Continue participating in activities you enjoy, spending time with friends, and pursuing interests that have nothing to do with admissions. You don't need to spend every free moment optimizing your application. In fact, stepping away from admissions speculation can help you approach your remaining essays and decisions with greater clarity. The goal isn't to eliminate uncertainty. It's to prevent uncertainty from dominating your life.

Final Thoughts: Make the Most of the Wait

Once you've submitted an early application, much of the admissions process is outside your control. What remains within your control is how you prepare for the next stage.

By completing Regular Decision applications, maintaining strong grades, monitoring official communications, and preparing for multiple outcomes, you can turn an anxious waiting period into a productive one.

Want a Consultation While Waiting for Results? 

At AtomicMind, we help students navigate every stage of the admissions process, including the uncertainty surrounding Early Decision and Early Action results. From refining Regular Decision applications to preparing contingency plans, our advisors help students stay focused, strategic, and confident while they wait.