Applying for College

Items to consider for your college applications: 


***Remember, each college and university will have its own set of requirements and timeline for the application process***

Colleges have different ways of admitting students

Rolling Admissions: This plan is often used by less selective colleges. Students are evaluated for admission soon after their application files are completed. Colleges with rolling admission have final application deadlines. Complete your college application early in the admission season, since later applicants may be up against fewer open spaces than earlier applicants. This is particularly true at very popular or more selective state institutions.

Regular Admission: This is the most common option among colleges and universities. The majority of regular admission deadlines occur between December 1 and March 15. Most students find out if they are accepted in March or April.

Early Notification: This admission plan, also called early evaluation, is offered by some colleges that admit students under the regular admission plan. Because such schools usually notify students of their admission decisions in early to mid-spring, early notification lets you know your application’s preliminary status.

Early Action: Used by some Ivy League and other selective institutions, early action plans require you apply to the college or university early, usually between late October and late November of your senior year of high school. As an early action candidate, you will most likely be notified of your acceptance, denial, or deferment by mid-December.

Restrictive Early Action: Some institutions have adopted single-choice early action policies that restrict applicants from applying early action or early decision to another college or university. If accepted under this plan, students have until May 1st to accept or turn down the offer of college admission.

Early Decision: If you decide to apply early decision, you must abide by the deadline, which is usually at least six weeks earlier than the regular deadline. The majority of early decision deadlines occur between mid-October and mid-November. Students are then notified of the institutions’ decisions by mid-to-late December. With admission under this plan, if you get in, you must accept the offer at once. You are bound to that school and will need to withdraw all other college applications. Only use this option if you are 100% sure you want to go to that school!


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