Process of Applying and Admissions Terms

Common Admissions Terms

• “Rolling Admissions” Decisions are processed depending on when the application is submitted. Apply as soon as possible
• “Regular Admissions” Most applicants will hear back in March. The date you submit your application does not affect the decision. Apply before the final deadline
• “Early decision” You sign a legally-binding contract; you will go there. You can only apply to one college as “Early Decision” but you can apply to many other college as you want for Regular, Rolling or Early Action Admissions. Apply before Early Decision deadline (usually in November).
• “Early Action” or “Restrictive Early Action” No binding contract but guarantees that the applicant will hear back by a certain date. Note that your application is not given any special consideration for applying Early Action. “Restrictive Early Action” means that you can only apply early action to that specific school. Apply before Early Action deadline (unusually in November).
• “Priority Date” Not a deadline, but a suggested date by which to apply so that you can be considered for scholarships or other programs. The is does not give you special consideration for admissions is also not the same thing as Early Action or Early Decision. Apply before Priority Date (unusually in November/December)