December College Readiness Newsletter for High School Families
December brings the first wave of college decisions and the holiday break that most seniors use, or should use, to finish their remaining applications. This newsletter covers how to respond to early results and what to accomplish over the break.
When the decision arrives
Early decision and early action results typically appear in mid- December, often in the school's portal. The results come in three forms: admitted, deferred, or denied. Each requires a different response and a different emotional processing.
If admitted to an early decision school: celebrate, withdraw other applications promptly, and submit the enrollment deposit by the required date. Confirm financial aid information and the deadline for the financial aid appeal process if the aid package is lower than expected.
Responding to a deferral
A deferral is not a quiet no. It is a request to revisit the application in the spring regular decision pool. Write a letter of continued interest to the admissions office within two weeks. Keep it short, specific, and honest: reaffirm your interest, mention any new achievements or recognition since the application was submitted, and confirm you will enroll if admitted.
Continue all regular decision applications without change. A deferral from one school is not a reason to abandon your backup options.
Responding to a denial
Give your student time to feel the disappointment before talking about next steps. A day of genuine acknowledgment is appropriate and healthy. Then redirect: the regular decision applications still in progress are real opportunities, and the students who arrive at April with multiple options are often genuinely happy with what they choose.
The holiday break: use it
The two-week holiday break is one of the most productive application windows of the year for seniors who use it intentionally. Regular decision deadlines of January first and January fifteenth require complete, polished applications by December thirty-first.
Set a specific daily goal for the break rather than leaving the work open-ended. One essay per day, or one complete application every three days, is more achievable than "finish all applications over break." Specific targets produce completed applications.
What juniors should do in December
Review PSAT results when they arrive and identify areas to work on before the spring SAT or ACT. Narrow the college research list to ten to fifteen schools worth visiting or researching in depth over the winter and spring. Talk with the counselor about whether senior year course choices need any adjustment.
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Frequently asked questions
What should seniors do in December for college planning?
Check early decision and early action results, respond appropriately to each outcome, use the holiday break to complete or polish regular decision applications, and confirm that all January first deadline applications are complete before December thirty-first.
What does a deferral from early decision mean?
A deferral means the school has moved your application to the regular decision pool for further consideration. It is not a denial. Write a brief letter of continued interest to the school, update your application with any significant new achievements, and continue the regular decision process at other schools. Approximately twenty to forty percent of deferred early applicants are admitted in the regular round, depending on the school.
How should families respond when a senior is denied from their early choice school?
Acknowledge the disappointment genuinely before moving toward next steps. A student who is told to cheer up immediately or to focus on the positives before they have had time to feel the loss is not being supported. A day to process the feeling is legitimate. Then, together, refocus on the regular decision applications already in progress.
Is the holiday break enough time to complete regular decision applications?
For students who have been working steadily since September and have mostly complete applications, yes. For students who have deferred most of the work, the holiday break may not be enough time to do quality work on multiple applications. Students in that position should discuss the situation with their counselor immediately.
How does Daystage help counselors communicate December updates to college prep families?
A December newsletter through Daystage can cover what to expect from early results, how to respond to each outcome, what to complete over the break, and when the counseling office reopens in January. Proactive communication in December reduces the anxious emails counselors receive during the holiday closure.
Adi Ackerman
Author
Adi Ackerman is a former classroom teacher and curriculum writer with 8 years in K-8 schools. She writes about school communication, parent engagement, and what actually works in real classrooms.
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