College Admissions Timelines

Timelines for College Admissions

• For your colleges of interest, we recommend you set up a simple spreadsheet on which you keep track of each institution’s required application documents, timelines, and other pertinent information.  This will help keep you organized in the weeks ahead.

• Rolling Admissions - Many colleges have rolling admissions deadlines and you can apply throughout the school year.  Each college’s website has up-to-date information about their deadlines and application process.

• Colorado Free App Day -  The Colorado Department of Higher Education teams up with colleges and universities across Colorado to waive college application fees for all Colorado students in October. OCTOBER 17-19, 2023.  That means if you submit your application between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on those days, you can apply for free to any public institution in Colorado and many private institutions as well.  All Colorado residents — freshmen, transfers and second bachelor’s candidates — qualify for Colorado Free Application Day. To take advantage of this opportunity, we recommend having all admissions application materials prepared and double-checked before that day.  Do not submit your application on Colorado Free Application Day if you feel unready – you only have one chance to submit an application and it’s better to wait until the application is at its best!

• Early Decision - Early decision (ED) is a binding agreement between you and a college in which you agree that you WILL attend that college should they offer you admission. You can only apply to one college ED. Generally, you are agreeing to go to that college even if they offer you no scholarships or financial aid.  ED deadlines are in the fall of your senior year.  You should receive a decision about your application around the new year, but each college is different, so you’ll need to check with each institution.

• Early Action - Early Action applications are nonbinding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date in the spring.  You can often apply to many colleges Early Action.  EA deadlines are in the fall of your senior year.  You should receive a decision about your application around the new year, but each college is different, so you’ll need to check with each institution.

  • Restrictive Early Action - the college only allows you to pursue Early Action with one private school; requires a contract (e.g., Princeton University).

• Regular Decision - Regular Decision is the normal process by which students apply by published deadlines, which are generally in the winter of your senior year (December – February) with the promise of receiving an admissions decision in the spring of your senior year.