Deadlines

There's a lot of jargon surrounding college application deadlines, and it can be confusing, so let's break it down!

• EARLY DECISION: Applying to a college under this deadline means that you legally bound to attend if you are accepted. This means that you will have to commit to the school, even if you have applied elsewhere, often before financial aid packages are released. Only use this deadline if you are 100% committed to this school, no matter what. 

• ​EARLY ACTION*: Applying to a college under this deadline means that you will receive your admissions decision earlier, but you are not legally bound to attend if admitted. Applying Early Action doesn't make your admission chances better than Regular Decision, but it does increase your chances of getting scholarships!

• ​REGULAR DECISION: Applying to a school under their regular decision deadline means you will receive your admissions decision later in the spring, and are not legally bound to attend if admitted. These deadlines tend to have more limited space to accept applicants, but still offer you the same chance at admission as Early Action does. 

• ROLLING ADMISSIONS: The college has no specific deadline in the fall/spring and instead reviews applications on a first come, first serve basis.

*Most admissions counselors recommend you apply Early Action whenever possible so you get the most amount of scholarship money. If you can't make this deadline for all of the schools on your list, pick your top school(s) or the one(s) you know you'll need more financial aid for.