May 1 — National Decision Day — just passed. Your student committed to a school, you sent the deposit, and everyone exhaled. And then someone asked: "So… what do we do now?"
That question is more common than you think. The entire college prep industry focuses on getting in. Almost nobody explains what happens after. This guide covers the questions parents are actually asking right now.
The two questions families ask that nobody answers clearly
1. "What will we actually pay?"
The number on the acceptance letter is usually the sticker price — tuition, fees, room and board before any aid is applied. What you'll actually pay is called the net price: sticker price minus grants, scholarships, and institutional aid. The difference can be $20,000–$50,000 per year depending on your income bracket.
Look for the total of grants and scholarships (money you don't repay) versus loans and work-study (money you do repay or earn). Subtract only the grants and scholarships from the sticker price — that's your true net cost.
You can also look up the net price by income bracket for any school on DecideMyCampus.
2. "Did we pick the right school for this major?"
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings by field of study at individual schools. A Computer Science graduate from one school might earn $85,000 at 10 years out; from another school in the same city, $62,000 — at the same tuition cost. That gap compounds over a career.
On DecideMyCampus, search your student's major and find their school in the results. The 10-year median earnings figure on each card is program-specific, not school-wide.
The summer timeline: May through August
May: The admin sprint
- Accept your financial aid award. Log into your student's portal and formally accept grants and scholarships.
- Submit the housing deposit and form. Most schools release housing applications in May. Deadlines vary — missing this can push your student into a waitlist or lower-priority dorm.
- Submit immunization records. Almost every school requires proof of specific vaccines before allowing on-campus housing.
- Register for new student orientation. Students who attend orientation earlier in the summer get first pick of course sections.
- Decline other schools. Officially withdraw from any schools your student was admitted to but won't attend.
June: Getting organized
- Take placement tests if required. Many schools require math and foreign language placement tests before orientation.
- Set up a student email and portal login. All communications go to the student's .edu address.
- Reach out to the roommate. Most schools send roommate assignments in June or July. Coordinate who's bringing what.
July: The home stretch
- Build the dorm checklist and shop early. July is the time to shop — not August, when stores run out of twin XL sheets.
- Set up a student bank account. A bank with branches or ATMs near campus is more convenient.
- Order or rent textbooks early. Textbooks ordered in July from rental services can save $300–600 compared to buying new from the campus store.
August: Final prep
- Confirm financial aid disbursement timing. Most schools apply financial aid to the tuition bill first, then issue a refund 1–3 weeks after classes begin — not before move-in.
- Get the student ID and parking permit sorted before arrival.
- Review the health insurance situation. Most schools charge an annual health insurance fee automatically — you can waive this if your student is already covered under your family plan.
The financial aid question nobody explains well
Financial aid doesn't arrive as a check before school starts. Here's how it actually flows:
- The school receives your aid and posts it to your student's account.
- The school applies it to your tuition and fees bill first.
- If aid exceeds tuition and fees, the school issues a refund to the student — typically 1–3 weeks after the semester begins.
- That refund is meant to cover housing, food, books, and personal expenses for the semester.
This means your student may need cash on hand for the first few weeks of school before the refund arrives. Plan for $500–1,500 in bridge funds.
Bottom line
The two things that matter most right now: submit the housing form before it closes and understand your actual net cost before you spend a dollar.
Take the Fit Score quiz on DecideMyCampus to see how your student's school stacks up on cost, earnings, and graduation rate compared to similar schools.