You submitted your application: what now?

Thanks to all of you who submitted applications at last week’s deadline! We realize we ask you to commit substantial time and effort to gathering all the materials the application requires, and to figuring out how you can put forward your strongest possible case for admission. The moments leading up to that fateful “submit” click can feel like the culmination of a long process, but in the moments just after doing so the hush is almost deafening, to paraphrase Spinal Tap. So, what now? Are you just supposed to, like, wait around until further notice?

The not entirely helpful answer is…sort of. You should absolutely relax for a few days! You’ve earned that much. We also need a bit of time to sift through the huge amount of materials we’ve recently received. Many of you have heeded our advice to submit your application forms by last week’s deadline, even if you still have a recommendation or test score report pending (if this is you, our hope is that we’ll have these remaining materials by February 1). Others of you submitted the entire, complete application package all at once. Either way, every received application needs to undergo an initial review to ensure that all documents are valid and legible. Those that pass muster are considered ready for reading by the Admissions Committee, and are passed on accordingly. Those requiring follow-up are held in a virtual holding pen until missing materials are received and outstanding issues resolved.

On your end, you’ll be able to see where you stand on your Application Status Page, which you can access via the prior link, or through the Admissions home page (click “Start an application” to be directed to the login). Please be aware, though, that it’s likely you won’t see any status updates on your page for at least 10 days. Consider this your official chill-out period! Relax, have a cream soda, whatever. We’re always happy to hear from our applicants, but if you contact us within this time inquiring about your application status, you’ll likely get a polite “please bear with us” in response. I assure you that you’ll be hearing from us shortly. Many of you will receive notification that your application is complete and moving on to the review stage. Others will get an update that your application is incomplete, along with details about any missing materials or pending action items.

This still leaves a good chunk of time between now and mid-March, when we expect to release decisions. There’s plenty of ways you can put this time to productive use. You may have noticed that there’s a lot of content on our website, and it’s reasonable not to have dug into it all while you’ve been working on applications. Now is a great time to learn more about the work of our faculty, and to start thinking in more detail about how you can work with the Office of Career Services as a Fletcher student. I’ll also double down on my pal Madhuri’s advice to start working on your financial plan now if you haven’t already begun to do so. Provided you completed the scholarship application along with your application for admission, you’ve done everything you need to do to be considered for Fletcher scholarship. Nearly all students draw upon a number of other financial resources, as well, though, and I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to leave yourself as much time as possible to investigate your various options. This is a good place to start researching some of the more prominent external scholarship opportunities that current and past Fletcher students have received. Those eligible for U.S. federal educational loans might want to start pecking away at the FAFSA during this time, too.

While it may seem like we’ve gone radio-silent for a week or so, have confidence that we’re working diligently on your behalf. We’re very much looking forward to reading all your applications, and you’ll be hearing from us before long!