Commitment Day, also known as National Decision Day, is the date by which admitted students must “commit” to the school they will attend in the coming fall. This is the deadline to submit a deposit to secure that student’s place. Students may only submit a deposit to one school.

What if I’m on the Wait List?

Unfortunately, being on the Wait List is different from having an acceptance. While students are admitted from the wait list at most universities each year, it is never a guarantee. Some schools don’t accept any students off the wait list in a given year. This is because there are a limited number of places available in a school’s freshman roster. Once a school hits that limit, they can no longer admit more students.

If you are on the Wait List for your dream school, you must submit your deposit and secure your place elsewhere by May 1st. If you are admitted off the Wait List later in the summer, you can change your commitment, but you will lose the initial deposit. This is a decision that ought to be made carefully in conversation with the student, the student’s counselor, and their parents.

After I submit the deposit, is my place guaranteed?

After a student submits their deposit and secures their place, the student will be permitted to move forward with next steps such as housing selection, course registration, and more. However, that does not mean the student is guaranteed a place at the school no matter what. The student must uphold their end of the contract they sign when they submit a deposit, which typically states a student must remain in good standing with their current institution (in other words, their high school) and achieve all credits necessary to graduate on time. Many schools also include a stipulation that students’ grades must remain on the same trajectory: in other words, a straight-A student should not have a 4th quarter report card full of Cs and Ds.

This means students must ensure that they:

• Maintain attendance. Seniors often participate in events like “senior skip day”, leave early, or arrive late in the days following AP Exams or school functions such as Prom. It is important to keep an eye on the student’s annual attendance; being absent for too many days can lead a student to not meet graduation requirements or necessitate summer school.
• Maintain their GPA. If a student’s academic record shows a dramatic drop in GPA, universities have the right to rescind their offers of acceptance. It is important that seniors finish strong.
• Avoid disciplinary action. Seniors should be wary of participating in Senior Pranks, and should avoid graduation parties where alcohol or recreational drugs are being used. Social media makes it easier than ever to appear in the background of a photo or video where illegal activities such as underage drinking have occurred, therefore risking their acceptance.

Commitment Day is a cause for celebration. It marks a whole new chapter in a student’s life. If you are committing to a school this week, congratulations! Remember that Aristotle Circle is here for you throughout your educational journey: we have expert tutors available to assist students at the college level, as well as test prep tutors and admissions counselors to help with your journey to graduate school and beyond. Check us out at aristotlecircle.com to see how we can help you.