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 — including several that most checklists never touch.
The two questions families ask that nobody answers clearly
Before we get into the timeline, let's address the two questions that show up in every parent forum after Decision Day:
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. At many private universities this tops $75,000 a year. Most families pay significantly less.
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. Your financial aid award letter should show this, but the line items can be confusing. 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. Search your student's school, open the detail page, and scroll to the Net Price by Income section — it shows what families in your income range actually paid last year.
2. "Did we pick the right school for this major?"
This is the question that gets almost no attention after Decision Day, but it matters enormously. A school's overall reputation tells you very little about what graduates from your student's specific program go on to earn.
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. It's the clearest way to validate — or reconsider — a commitment before the semester begins.
The summer timeline: May through August
Most parents are surprised by how much needs to happen between May 1 and move-in day. Here's the sequence, week by week:
May (right now): The admin sprint
- Accept your financial aid award. Log into your student's portal and formally accept grants and scholarships. If you're taking loans, you'll accept those here too — and you'll need to complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note before they disburse.
- 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. Set a calendar reminder the day you get the email.
- Submit immunization records. Almost every school requires proof of specific vaccines (meningitis, MMR, varicella) before allowing on-campus housing. Your pediatrician can provide a record. Don't wait — this step clogs up in August when everyone remembers at once.
- Register for new student orientation. Orientation is typically required and often includes early class registration. Students who attend orientation earlier in the summer get first pick of course sections. Check dates immediately.
- Decline other schools. Officially withdraw from any schools your student was admitted to but won't attend. It's courteous and frees a spot for a waitlisted student.
June: Getting organized
- Take placement tests if required. Many schools require math and foreign language placement tests before orientation. These are often online and should be completed before your student's orientation date so advisors can build an accurate schedule.
- Set up a student email and portal login. All communications from the school — housing assignments, financial aid updates, orientation logistics — go to the student's .edu address. Make sure your student is actually checking it.
- Complete the FAFSA for next year. The FAFSA for the 2026–27 academic year opens in the fall, but your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) for subsequent years is based on updated income. Mark your calendar so you don't miss the priority deadline at your student's school.
- Reach out to the roommate. Most schools send roommate assignments in June or July. When the assignment arrives, reach out to coordinate who's bringing what (mini-fridge, TV, fan, shower caddy) to avoid duplicate bulk items.
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 and everyone's buying at the same time. See our dorm essentials list below.
- Set up a student bank account. Many students use their home bank's student checking account, but a bank with branches or ATMs near campus is more convenient. Have the account open before move-in so financial aid refunds have somewhere to land.
- Arrange renter's insurance or check your homeowner's policy. Many homeowner's policies extend limited coverage to students living on campus. Verify what's covered — laptops and expensive equipment often aren't.
- Order or rent textbooks early. Your student's course schedule is set at orientation. Textbooks ordered in July from rental services or used markets can save $300–600 compared to buying new from the campus store in September.
August: Final prep
- Confirm financial aid disbursement timing. Most schools apply financial aid to the tuition bill first, then issue a refund for the remaining balance (housing, food, personal expenses). This refund typically arrives 1–3 weeks after classes begin — not before move-in. Budget accordingly.
- Get the student ID and parking permit sorted before arrival. Many schools allow students to upload a photo and pre-register for a parking permit online. Doing this in advance saves hours of waiting on move-in day.
- Review the health insurance situation. Most schools charge an annual health insurance fee automatically. If your student is already covered under your family plan, you can waive this — but there's a deadline (usually early September). Missing it means paying for duplicate coverage.
The dorm checklist: what you actually need
Every "dorm checklist" online is either overwhelming or generic. Here's what experienced college parents say actually matters, separated from what wastes money:
Bedding and sleep
- Twin XL sheets (2 sets — dorms run hot and laundry piles up)
- Mattress topper (dorm mattresses are notoriously thin)
- Lightweight comforter or duvet
- Pillow and backup pillowcase
- Eye mask and earplugs (for when the roommate's schedule doesn't match)
Bathroom and laundry
- Shower caddy and flip flops for shared showers
- Quick-dry towels (2–3 sets)
- Laundry bag, detergent pods, and dryer sheets
- First aid kit and basic OTC medications (ibuprofen, cold medicine, antacids)
Desk and studying
- Laptop — verified compatible with the school's software requirements
- Surge-protected power strip with USB ports (most dorm rooms have 2–3 outlets for 2 students)
- Desk lamp with a warm bulb (overhead lighting in dorms is harsh)
- Noise-canceling headphones
- External hard drive or cloud backup subscription
Kitchen and food
- Mini-fridge (check if your student's dorm supplies one — many do)
- Reusable water bottle
- Microwave-safe mug and bowl
- A few non-perishable snacks for late-night study sessions
Skip: a full set of dishes, a coffeemaker (use the campus one or a French press), a TV (laptops handle this), and anything you wouldn't want lost or stolen.
The financial aid question nobody explains well
Here's what confuses almost every family: financial aid doesn't arrive as a check before school starts. Here's how it actually flows:
- The school receives your aid (grants, loans) 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, depending on your school's refund timeline. Call the bursar's office in August to ask exactly when refunds are issued — it varies by school.
If your student takes a Parent PLUS Loan, those funds go to the school's account (not directly to you). Any surplus after tuition is paid is refunded to either the school or the parent, depending on a setting you choose when you borrow.
Can you still change your mind?
Yes — but there are trade-offs. After May 1, most schools have committed their aid budgets and filled their incoming class. Switching schools is possible but typically means:
- Losing your enrollment deposit at the first school (usually $200–500, non-refundable)
- Starting from scratch on housing at the new school (often waitlisted)
- Potentially losing merit scholarship offers that were time-limited
If your student is having second thoughts about the school, dig into whether it's really about the school or about the anxiety of the transition — those are different problems. If it's about the major or career fit, that's worth investigating. Look up the program-specific earnings data for both schools on DecideMyCampus before making any move.
One thing most families never check after committing
After Decision Day, most families stop doing research. That's understandable — the decision feels final. But there's one data check that's worth doing now, while there's still time to adjust expectations or plans:
Look up what graduates in your student's specific major earn at this specific school — at the 10-year mark.
This isn't about second-guessing the choice. It's about calibrating financial expectations. If your student is taking on $40,000 in loans to study a program where graduates typically earn $38,000 at 10 years, that's important information for how you plan the next four years. If the program shows $75,000+ median earnings, that debt load looks very different.
You can look this up right now on DecideMyCampus:
- Search your student's major in the search bar
- Find your student's school in the results
- Check the 10-year earnings figure and the graduation rate
- Compare to 2–3 similar schools to see where it lands
This takes about 3 minutes and gives you a real data anchor for the next four years of financial planning.
Bottom line
The summer before freshman year is busier than most families expect and less stressful than it looks — if you work through the checklist in order. 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.
Everything else — the dorm supplies, the roommate calls, the placement tests — follows from there. You have time. Use it.
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 — and whether the numbers match what you were told during the application process.