So the day you’ve either been excited for (or dreading) has finally arrived. College decision day is upon us and whether you know exactly where you’ve been dreaming of going to school or you’ve been putting off making your final choice, the time has come to make a decision about where you want to call home for the next few years. Choosing a college is a scary and sometimes difficult decision to make. Maybe you’re stuck between two choices, you’re having a hard time choosing the right major, or you’re just nervous to be away from home. But try not to let your doubts or uncertainty of the future take away from how big of a deal college decision day really is. Picking where you want to go to college shouldn’t be taken lightly (it’s the next few years of your academic career for crying out loud), but it should also be an exciting time for you! Instead of thinking of college decision day as something to dread, think of it as the first big step in your next new adventure!

And what better way to begin a new adventure than with a celebration? Like all other big events in your life (birthdays, job promotions, etc.), making your final choice of where you want to go to college deserves to be celebrated. You might be the first in your family to attend college or you might be the last one in your family to go. Whatever the case, picking a college is a big deal for everyone.  Picking your school is just the first of many choices to come when attending college. Next you’ll be faced with choices on who you want to room with, how you’ll want to decorate your dorm, and many other decisions that will have to be made. But after you make your decision of where you want to go to college, the very next step is to make a decision about how you want to celebrate your victory.

Celebrating college decision day is about two things: celebrating your choice, and celebrating the adventure and excitement (and maybe a touch of stress if we’re being honest) that await you! College decision day is a big choice no matter where you decide to go to school, or if you already have a college choice picked out. Deciding your future might be stressful, but it can also be exciting! To alleviate some of the worries that might come with college decision day, here’s a list of 7 ways to celebrate college decision day to help give you some ideas!

1. Celebratory Dinner

Perhaps the easiest and most basic way to celebrate your college decision is with a celebratory dinner. If we’re being honest, who doesn’t love any excuse to go out to dinner and enjoy some amazing food? So why not make yourself the reason to celebrate? Grab your family, closest friends, or anyone you want to share this moment with and head to your favorite restaurant to gorge out on all the food you can eat--it’s a celebration after all! Or, this is a great excuse to try that new fancy restaurant you’ve been wanting to go to but it’s just so expensive. Choosing a college is a big deal, so what better time to decide to splurge on a fancy dinner to celebrate your decision? Besides, going out to eat is a great way for your family and friends to be included in your decision.

The choice of where you go to college is up to you, but incorporating your friends and family in the celebration of your choice is a great reminder that while you may have made this choice yourself, you’re not alone in whatever lies ahead! Not into going out to eat? Make a celebration at home with your favorite home cooked meal, or order something from your favorite takeout place! It’s not about where or what you eat that is the important part. The important thing about getting dinner with your loved ones is to celebrate your college decision with those who are closest to you!

2. Stock Up On Your School Spirit

So you’ve been accepted to your dream school and you’ve finally committed to attending--now all you’re missing is some campus gear to rep your decision! Perhaps one of the first exciting things about going to college is picking out some college gear that you can use or wear. Whether you grab some gear at your college’s bookstore on your visit to campus or you ordered your favorite sweatshirt you saw on the campus website, picking out gear to rep your new school is exciting. Everyone loves getting a new hoodie, a blanket, a mug, or anything you can think of with your school’s logo (trust me, the bookstore will have it), and getting things with your school logo is an easy way to get you excited to attend!

Plus, having a sweatshirt with your school’s logo or mascot on it is always a fun idea if you want to dress festive for college decision day! College gear is also a great conversation starter and will give you an opportunity to tell people you’ll be attending in the fall. Chances are you’re excited to attend your new school, and even more excited to talk about it. Repping your school with some fun new gear is the perfect lead in to talk about your future plans, even if it’s to strangers on the street! Besides, who doesn’t love a new sweatshirt or hat to rep your new school that you’ve decided on?

3. Throw a Party

DId someone say party? Just like how you might have had a party to celebrate your graduation and the ending of your high school career, it’s now time to celebrate the beginning of your next academic adventure. Ever heard of starting things off with a bang? Take this mentality and put it toward your decision day celebratory festivities. Like any other momentous life event, picking a college just begs to be celebrated. You’re about to embark on an exciting journey of knowledge and *gasp* adulthood. So before you begin the next chapter in your life, give it a good send off with a party with all of your favorite people.

Not big on large parties? Having a party doesn’t mean you need to rent a shelter and invite hundreds of people. Celebrating your college decision with a party can be as big or as little as you want it to be. This can mean having a bunch of people over for a summer cookout before your fall term starts, or it could mean just a couple of your close friends getting together for one last hoorah before you all (maybe) go your separate ways for school. A party could also mean just having a movie night with your family. Having a party isn’t about how big it is, it’s about celebrating this next adventure in your life!

4. Brag Away

Forget about being bashful or modest--you got into college! If ever there was a time to brag about yourself and your achievements, now is most certainly that time! You’ve worked hard to get where you are today, and now your hard work is finally paying off. You’ve picked where you want to go to school and you want the world to know it--so tell them about it! Make that long sappy post on social media you’ve been dying to make since the moment you got your acceptance letter, post a picture of you in your school gear, or make a boomerang of you opening your acceptance letter. The possibilities of how you can shout your achievement and excitement to the world are endless. Don’t worry about being modest now--embrace your achievements and shout them for everyone to hear. You have to be your own biggest supporter in college, so you might as well start now! Besides, if you don’t brag about your own accomplishments then who will?

5. Treat Yourself

Just like how you can’t wait for someone else to celebrate your achievements, you shouldn't wait around for someone to buy you a celebratory gift for college decision day! You achieved something great and got into college. Greater than that, you had the option to decide where you wanted to attend. If there was ever a good reason to buy yourself something you’ve been wanting for a long time, this is that reason. In the words of Donna and Tom from Parks and Recreation, “Treat yoself!” So go to the store and get yourself that video game you’ve been wanting to play since it came out, or go and buy those earrings you’ve been eyeing in the store for months. What better way to celebrate college decision day than to get yourself something you’ve been wanting for a long time?

6. Get Yourself Excited for Class

While class might not be starting for a few months after decision day takes place, getting a head start on your school supplies can never hurt. Shopping early for school supplies is a fun way to get yourself excited for the coming semester. Besides, you’d be lying if you said picking out some new pens or notebooks doesn’t get you at least a little excited to use them. Shopping for school accessories might not seem like the most fun way to celebrate your college decision day, but it’s a necessary part of going to school and what better time to shop for school items than when you’re riding the high of being excited to start in the fall? School supplies are a great way to show off your style in class and to keep you motivated to work hard. So pick something fun when deciding what notebooks or types of highlighters you want, and it’ll seem less like school supplies shopping and more like preparation for your college adventure!

7. Get Dorm Ready

SImilar to how shopping for school supplies might get you excited for classes in the fall, another fun way to celebrate college decision day is shopping for dorm decor. Having and being able to decorate your dorm is one of the most exciting experiences college life offers. Your college dorm room is your own space that you can decorate however you want. Picking out your theme, the colors you want to incorporate, and just everything that goes into decorating your new space is what makes the experience of living in a dorm so fun and exciting. Your dorm room is where you can let your own personal style shine, and shopping for it is almost as exciting as staying there. So to celebrate your choosing of the college you want to attend, head to the store and pick out your first piece of dorm decor to commemorate the experience!

However you decide to celebrate college decision day, just remember to be proud of your decision and that choosing where you attend school is worth celebrating. You don’t have to celebrate your college decision in a big, extravagant way. Something as simple as just having dinner with your parents and talking about how excited you might be is sometimes enough! How you choose to celebrate your college decision is totally up to you! But if you’re looking for ways to celebrate college decision day, then use this article to give you some ideas!