Key takeaways
- Colleges offer some students conditional acceptance, which requires the student to submit further information before they’re fully accepted.
- Schools may request official transcripts, standardized test scores, documentation, or prerequisites.
- Even if you’re fully accepted, colleges can rescind acceptance at any time for dropped grades, disciplinary actions, offensive behavior, and other serious issues.
Flickr user Jehane
Some colleges send conditional acceptance letters if they need to verify information before the student is fully accepted. The school might ask for transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, English proficiency tests, or other documentation. If you receive this offer, it’s important to complete the required steps as soon as possible and before the listed deadline. Below, we break down how to turn that conditional acceptance into an acceptance and how to avoid getting the offer rescinded.
What is conditional acceptance in college?
Conditional acceptance from a college means you’re accepted to the college as long as you meet and fulfill their requested conditions. If you don’t meet these requirements, the school will withdraw the acceptance offer.
A few common conditions students need to fulfill include:
- Submit final transcripts. Colleges want to see you’re maintaining your grades and didn’t give into senioritis.
- Submit official transcripts or ACT/SAT score. If you self-reported your GPA, ACT, or SAT, the school would like to verify that the information you supplied matches the official transcripts or test results.
- Show English proficiency. For international students, if English is your second language, they are likely requesting a completed language proficiency course or test.
- Supply missing documentation. Some colleges will alert you if your application is missing key information, such as letters of recommendation, and give you a chance to supply them.
- Take prerequisites. Transfer students may be asked to take prerequisites or retake courses that they earned a C or below on before they’re accepted.
What should you do if you receive a conditional acceptance letter?
If you receive a conditional acceptance letter, read it over carefully. It should highlight:
- Your acceptance status
- The reason the offer is conditional
- What you need to provide or do to be fully accepted
- Relevant deadlines
- Contact information
Follow the instructions provided by the stated deadline to turn your conditional acceptance into an acceptance. If any of this information is missing or unclear or you have any questions, reach out to the admissions department or listed contact information right away.
Can colleges rescind acceptance offers?
Yes, colleges can rescind or revoke acceptance, even if you met the requirements of your conditional acceptance or were unconditionally accepted. It’s very rare, but some reasons a school might withdraw an offer include:
- Your grades dropped significantly.
- You accepted admission at more than one college (not including waitlisted students).
- You applied to and/or were accepted to more than one early decision college.
- You’ve received disciplinary infractions, including suspension, expulsion, legal problems, or criminal activity.
- You were found to have lied, plagiarized, or cheated on your application.
- You took part in offensive behavior, such as making inappropriate comments online.
In some cases, colleges will give you a warning first and advise how to get back in good standing. If your grades dropped due to family emergencies, illnesses, or other reasons, be sure to let your school know ahead of time.
You will not receive a deposit back if the acceptance offer is rescinded after you submitted money.
Conditional acceptance requirements are often easy to meet, especially if you’ve maintained your grades and were truthful on your application. Be sure to submit any information your college is requesting as soon as possible to avoid potential issues.
Find our your acceptance chances at the schools on your list with our College Match tool. Then, improve those chances with these tips on how to boost your college applications.
