You Hit Submit — Now What? What Really Happens After Sending Your College Application
Nov 12, 2025
After hitting submit on a college application, the real journey begins! The hosts discuss what to expect from confirmation emails and admission portals. They debunk myths about missing documents causing crisis and emphasize patience as colleges batch-process applications. Parents are advised against unnecessary contact with colleges, while students are encouraged to take a breather. Lastly, they tackle the anxieties surrounding submission timing and server crashes. Stay calm and let the process unfold!
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Celebrate The First Submission
Cathy and Meredith described the Common App's confetti and a school's Polaroid wall celebrating submissions.
Meredith shared a student photo holding a sign that read, "I hit submit," to mark the milestone.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Set Up And Check Admission Portals
After submission, set up and check your college admission portals promptly to track status and messages.
Ensure the applicant (not the parent) monitors portal emails because colleges will communicate missing items there.
insights INSIGHT
Files Get Matched In Batches
Colleges batch-process and match external documents after submission so items may show as "missing" briefly.
Application review typically starts after processing and organizational work, often a week or more later.
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You finally hit “submit” on your college application, so what do you do now? In this episode, Cathy and Meredith walk families through what happens after the big moment, from the confetti on your screen to the first response email from your selected college. They explain how admission portals work, what to do if materials look “missing,” and why it’s normal for systems to take time to update. They also debunk common myths about submission timing, server crashes, and small errors, reminding parents and students alike that perfection isn’t the goal. With empathy and humor, they encourage parents and students to stay calm, be patient, and let the process unfold. Tune in for practical, sanity-saving advice on what really happens after you hit submit!
Key Points From This Episode:
[0:00:58] Today’s topic: what to do after you hit submit.
[0:02:39] What to expect from Common App and college confirmation emails.
[0:03:52] Setting up admission portals to track your application status.
[0:04:49] Why missing materials, like transcripts or test scores, aren’t cause for panic.
[0:07:18] How colleges batch-process and match materials behind the scenes.
[0:08:30] Why parents should avoid contacting colleges directly.
[0:09:47] Making sure students pace themselves after hitting their first deadline.
[0:10:41] The truth about submission timing and last-minute applications.
[0:14:25] Debunking fears about Common App crashes on deadline day.
[0:16:09] Why fear tactics don’t help students do their best work.
[0:18:39] Reasons to consider letting your college text you.
[0:19:54] Why small typos and formatting errors won’t hurt your application.
[0:20:16] When and how to contact a college about a real error, like a wrong major.
[0:21:22] Stay calm, patient, and let the process unfold.
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