Seniors receive college admissions results on the spot with select schools

Faiza Tasnim and Nilla Wahab|January 2, 2023

Select+schools%2C+like+Long+Island+University%2C+gave+admission+results+immediately+after+a+brief+interview.

Katherine Lian

Select schools, like Long Island University, gave admission results immediately after a brief interview.

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Throughout the fall semester, alumni and admissions representatives have visited Townsend Harris High School to answer questions and gauge interest in their respective colleges. Some schools—like Long Island University— offered “instant decision days” in which, after a brief interview, representatives immediately accepted or rejected applicants.

Often, students are also offered financial aid packages alongside their non-binding offers, including fee waivers that allow them to apply at no cost. “[Instant decision] is great,” said guidance counselor Sara Skoda. “They also provide scholarship information, and students walk away already knowing they’ve been admitted into a school along with the potential aid situation [there].”

More than half of the senior class attended the LIU instant decision day. Ms. Skoda said, “[This was more than I have] ever seen of students attending an instant decision opportunity.”

As one of the students who attended, senior Sean Zhou said, “The instant decision was such a rapid process. They looked at my transcript and heard my SAT scores then I was good to go.” 

In addition to LIU, St. Francis College was also scheduled to offer instant decisions to seniors, but the event was postponed and has yet to be rescheduled. 

Despite the delay, students are still drawn to the opportunity to learn more other colleges while earning quicker college acceptances.

Sean said, “I didn’t know that they [LIU] gave such generous scholarships, so after getting accepted by the instant decision with a scholarship, I definitely am considering committing to LIU more.”

“I think [instant decision] is definitely worthwhile,” said senior Michael Zheng. “It gives [you] a certain feeling of reassurance when you have more confirmed options.”

“I think juniors will have more of an opportunity with instant decisions due to COVID regulations coming down,” said Ms. Skoda. “It can only be a positive experience. Definitely be open-minded to them because it can help you with so many things like interviewing and meeting people from different colleges.”