Right before submitting, the common app said something about having to let colleges know if anything changed that was listed on the common app. Does that mean that if a student drops an extracurricular listed on the activity list, they would have to inform colleges?
So I did get access to all the portals. Indiana University is saying that official test scores are missing. I had all the scores sent in August. College board website has it listed as sent. What should we do? Resend? Have S20 contact IU? Should he do that tomorrow or wait until Monday and call someone?
Have your son contact the university. The scores are probably there but not yet matched to his account.
@Darcy123 lol, my daughter loved the confetti
@Octagon I could not imagine schools spitting hairs over something like an EC that was happening when the applicant filled out the application and then subsequently dropped.
I think this is mostly a disclaimer, but if for some reason the applicant needed to withdraw the application, or they self-reported scores they intended to get but didnât, decided not to apply to college⊠you get the idea.
@Octagon I think if your C20 was involved in the activity for some time, then dropped itâŠno harm, no foul. In our case, D20 is dropping a course she listed as âplannedâ for Spring semester. You may consider notifying some schools about it, but in our case I am just gonna ignore it since itâs a fine arts class. I think the intent for that clause is for significant changes, but that just my opinion.
Thanks for the feedback @bigmacbeth @fencingmom My S20 is in a club that has now unfortunately become toxic due to some politics involved. He is no quitter but I donât like the effect on his well-being. I might encourage him to leave if it gets too crazy.
@Octagon Who has time for toxicity? (sigh, eye roll).
Itâs not quitting, itâs called having standards.
@fencingmom Priceless advice. Thanks - just shared it with my S20.
So whatâs next after submitting EA apps; is there any checklist to help charter next steps for someone who is going through for the first time?
DD may be sending few RD and UC apps, but want to know what should be their next in their TODOs?
How to find some scholarship opportunities for NMSF and non-NMSF kids? Are you guys having some tracker / app to keep things organized?
On my part, I have organize info for CSS submission.
@sibpuri Donât know about a checklist but I went thru the process last year with D19, so hereâs some adviceâŠ
College Portals - Each school will send a link to their application portal in an email to the student. The student should visit the portal and set up their account for each school ASAP. Do not wait.
Then check each portal to see that all pieces of the application have been received. Could take up to 2 weeks for everything to get updated, but youâll want to make sure the schools have received scores, transcripts, school reports and teacher recs. D19 had one app kicked to RD because her HS failed to send their parts in time.
Decisions - Wait for EA decisions and donât be too discouraged if things donât go your way. You will be surprised how many high stats kids are Deferred in the EA round at many schools. It seems that some schools are protecting yield, and assume that high stats kids have applied ED somewhere else, so want to wait and see if they withdraw their app before offering admission.
Grades - Students need to stay focused and keep their grades up. First semester grades may be considered in the event that a student is Deferred from the EA round to the RD round.
Stay out of trouble! Seniors seem to think theyâre invincible. They own the HS now, and yet are so ready to move on. Even my smart D19, whoâd never been in any trouble, got into some trouble senior year.
Otherwise, try to relax and enjoy your time together. The time between submission and decisions seems to be forever, but next fall will be here before you know it and youâll be missing your student off at college.
@momzilla2D Great advice! Just looked at portal for ED school. The date listed for all documents received is november 2nd. Application date on common app shows it was submitted before deadline. Is this november 2nd date the date that the school enters the information into the portal?
@momzilla2D , Excellent advice. This is my second time around and I appreciate the reminder of it all. It goes quickly for sure. I agree with every single one of your points.
@momzilla2D , Thanks for great advice.
Can someone guide on Financial Aid side of what to expect and TODO after EA applications are submitted?
Thanks again.
@sibpuri If you have already filled out the FAFSA (pretty easy to fill out) and the CSS Profile (more time consuming) for the schools that require them, I would just follow up with each schoolâs FA office to ensure they have what they need to make an FA decision. And they all have different deadlines; some ED and EA schools wanted everything by 11/1, but some were later.
@momzilla2D
Thank you for the invaluable guidance, very helpful. 
If filling out FAFSA for potential loans only (not going to receive need based aid), does the collegeâs FAFSA deadline matter?
@chardonMN No, when you file FAFSA wonât matter. You may want to do it based on the balances in your accounts at a certain date. You also donât want to wait until the last minute.
@Octagon, if the dates differ then I would guess thatâs when the school pulled them down. They sometimes show on the portal what admission plan your kidâs application is under: EA/ED/RD/etc.
@bigmacbeth Thanks - it does say ED plan.
Thanks for all the great advice!
Question re: calling financial aid offices to make sure all are received, can I do that or should I have DS20? We have also sent to colleges that he is applying RD to but hasnât sent app to yet. Should I (or should he) wait until he applies to call?