What is the best way to express Tom's situation after submitting his entry?

The phrase "There was nothing Tom could do but wait for the decision" effectively captures Tom's situation after submitting his entry. It conveys a sense of passivity and inevitability, indicating that he has taken all possible actions and now has no control over the outcome. The inclusion of "wait for the decision" emphasizes the aspect of anticipation inherent in his circumstance, highlighting that the next step is entirely reliant on the response from others involved in the decision-making process.

This choice conveys the emotional context of uncertainty and inevitability, which can resonate strongly in scenarios where outcomes are out of one's control. The phrasing succinctly encapsulates the idea that Tom has done all he can, leaving him with the only recourse of being patient until the outcome is revealed.