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Once you have decided the colleges you would like to apply, one of the first things to check on is the application options. Below are the six most common application options, but note that most schools won't necessarily offer all of these. Pay special attention to what your specific colleges include for your application year, including what dates are associated with those options.
Once you have decided the colleges you would like to apply, one of the first things to check on is the application options. Below are the six most common application options, but note that most schools won't necessarily offer all of these. Pay special attention to what your specific colleges include for your application year, including what dates are associated with those options.
Early Decision
Early Decision
What is it?
What is it?
For colleges that offer Early Decision, this is an opportunity for students to demonstrate extra interest in that particular school. The deadline for Early Decision is typically mid-fall, and students will hear back within a couple months of applying (typically December). The key distinction in this plan is that the student’s application is binding; if you are accepted to the school, you must withdraw any other applications and commit to attending your ED school. Some schools also offer an option for Early Decision II, which is the same binding terms for an application completed in January.
When to apply this way?
When to apply this way?
Early Decision demonstrates how committed you are to a school; you are applying before other applicants, you are willing to fill out extra materials (more on this later), and you will say yes to them if they say yes to you. These factors make you a more competitive applicant; applying ED will almost always increase your likelihood of being accepted. It certainly doesn’t guarantee it, but the fact that you chose that college as your only first choice tends to impress them! If you have a clear favorite school that you would say yes to attending, no matter who else accepted you, it might be wise to ED.
When to not apply this way?
When to not apply this way?
Because Early Decision increases your likelihood of getting accepted, some students are tempted to view ED simply as an admission “boost” in the "game" of applying to college. Rather than choosing their favorite school, they will choose a school that they like pretty well and will apply ED simply for an increased likelihood of acceptance. I tend to advise students to avoid using ED this way, as it would be very unfortunate if they did also got into their dream school, but locked themselves in elsewhere.
Finances is also something to keep in mind when you apply through this method ; if you are accepted to a college through an Early Decision deadline, you are obligated to attend the college and pay whatever the tuition ends up being. If your ability to afford a college hinges on your financial aid package, it might be worth avoiding the binding contract of Early Decision until you have that financial information.
Early Action
Early Action
What is it?
What is it?
Early Action is similar to early decision, but it is not binding. If a student is admitted, they are not required to pull other applications and commit to that school. They may get a response back a little later than ED applicants, but it tends to still be by January.
When to apply this way?
When to apply this way?
If you aren’t ready to make a binding commitment to a school but are still interested in showing strong interest, Early Action is a perfect middle ground. It does require you to have your materials ready sooner, but you will learn if you have been accepted anywhere before your January deadlines in some cases. EA can also qualify you for some scholarships that are not available later in the admissions process. Not always, but EA has the potential to offer an increased likelihood of acceptance at some colleges.
When to not apply this way?
When to not apply this way?
Most of the time, there is little reason to avoid applying Early Action. A few of the only reasons…
If you need more time to prepare documents/essays.
If you want to have your first semester grades considered (not all colleges will look at midyear reports, though). Sometimes you don't get the opportunity to take Advanced/AP courses until senior year, and you want to make sure colleges get a chance to see this side of you.
If you simply need more time. Maybe you committed an honor code violation at the end of junior year, and taking some time to demonstrate growth from this mistake helps your application. Maybe an award is released in December that you want to include.
Regular Decision
Regular Decision
What is it?
What is it?
Historically, this was the only deadline for college admissions. All students submitted their application typically during late winter/early spring, and received a decision within a couple of months.
When to apply this way?
When to apply this way?
Regular Decision tends to be due in January, so this can be to your benefit if you need more time to prepare your application. This also allows you to have most standardized test scores from the fall, which could make you a more competitive applicant. Some schools consider midyear grades; if you need another chance to demonstrate your academic potential, applying later might provide that.
When to not apply this way?
When to not apply this way?
Applying RD can create a more competitive process. If there are strong applicants accepted from the early deadlines, the number of spots remaining could be diminished before they have even looked at your application. Similarly, if you are interested in a specific major at a school, the availability could potentially shrink if those spots have already been handed out. Some scholarship opportunities are more available for those who applied earlier, which could also limit your options. There’s also the truth that, if you only apply to college RD, you might have to wait until March before you’ve even heard back from any schools. That could make for a stressful senior year!
Rolling Admissions
Rolling Admissions
What is it?
What is it?
Rolling admissions typically have a mid-spring deadline, but they will begin considering your application as soon as you submit it. For other deadlines, colleges will wait until after the deadline to evaluate applications. With rolling deadlines, colleges will look at applications as soon as they receive them instead of waiting for the last deadline, which allows for a response to be delivered earlier (typically in 2-8 weeks).
When to apply this way?
When to apply this way?
The biggest thing to be aware of with rolling admissions is that the sooner your application is in, the better. Colleges will be accepting students as soon as the application opens, which means there are less open spots as time goes on. In some ways, the rolling deadline removes the urgency of getting your application in on a particular day. On the other hand, it adds more of a time crunch; every passing day could make the selection process more competitive!
When to not apply this way?
When to not apply this way?
As noted above, the earlier the better. If you are close to the deadline, be aware that spots will have been filling up over the months leading up to the deadline. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t apply anymore, but know that the selectivity will have increased.
Restrictive Early Action
Restrictive Early Action
What is it?
What is it?
This is typically rare to see, and will be clarified by the college if they have a restrictive policy around early action. These restrictions generally have to do with limiting how many applications a student can submit during early action deadlines. An example of this would be a competitive private school that requires students not submit any early action applications to other private schools, but public schools would still be allowed.
When to apply this way?
When to apply this way?
Assess all of the schools that you would be applying to early, and consider how many of those colleges would be ineligible after this restrictive EA. You may still have many affordable state schools with great reputations as a viable option. This is non binding, so the commitment that comes with ED doesn’t apply the same way.
When to not apply this way?
When to not apply this way?
The main reason to not apply to a restrictive deadline would be if it limited a significant number of colleges that you could apply to EA otherwise. Do your homework, though. If those schools that you are no longer allowed to apply to don’t offer preference for EA, and you really like the restrictive school, it might be worth limiting those EA applications.
Direct Admissions
Direct Admissions
What is it?
What is it?
This is a relatively new initiative created by the Common App. Participating colleges create requirements, including GPA and demographic information, and provide Common App with those requirements. If students that have completed the Common App meet these requirements, they will receive an email/notification that they have received a direct admission offer. More details will be included about how to move forward with this invitation to make it a complete admissions offer. (NOTE: "Direct Admit" has another definition that has to do with applying directly into a major, such as nursing. That is a different process from this Common App initiative.)
How to apply this way?
How to apply this way?
Other than completing the Common Application correctly, no action is needed on the part of the applicant. The colleges will look through your information and reach out to you through email if you have been selected for direct admission.
What to do once notified?
What to do once notified?
The requirements of finalizing a direct admissions offer tend to be simpler than the normal admission requirements (for example, letters of recommendation are not regularly required). However, an official transcript to confirm your academic information may be necessary. Make sure to notify your college advisor if you receive a direct admissions offer, as they have no way of knowing that a transcript needs to be sent unless you make them aware of it. It is typical for the fee to be waived with a direct admit offer.
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