TYPES OF ADMISSIONS PLANS

College admissions plans are structured plans for how colleges are going to admit your class. Depending on how selective the college is and how it makes admission decisions, your work and the application process will need to shift to meet the deadlines.

Rolling Admission

A decision plan that lets students submit an application at any time throughout the year. Colleges will review applications as they receive them, and make admission decisions throughout the year. Approximately 3-8 weeks after a student applies, the student should receive a decision.

This plan is often used by less selective colleges. 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.

Typical Application Deadline: May (or until freshman class slots are filled)

Typical Deadline to Accept Admission Offer: May (or until freshman class slots are filled)

Examples of schools that offer Rolling Admissions include: Marquette University, University of Iowa, University of Missouri - Columbia, and Northern Illinois University.

Regular Admission

An application process in which you apply by a specific date and then receive an admission decision within a stated period of time. This plan is usually a later plan than some of the other plans a school may offer.

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.

Typical Application Deadline: January/February

Typical Deadline to Accept Admission Offer: May

Examples of schools that offer Regular Decision include: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Indiana University, The Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Michigan.

Early Action(EA)/Priority Admission

An application process to apply and receive a decision earlier than the Regular Decision notification date. Unlike Early Decision (ED), EA is “non-binding” and you have no obligation to enroll and will have until May 1 to consider the offer and confirm your enrollment.

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.

Typical Application Deadline: November

Typical Deadline to Accept Admission Offer: May

Examples of schools that offer Early Action include: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Indiana University, The Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Michigan.

Restrictive Early Action (REA) Admission

Similar to Early Action, applying for REA requires that you submit your application earlier than Regular Decision (RD). As a result, you will receive your admission decision earlier than you would receive a RD decision. Additionally colleges place certain restrictions on your applications to other early application processes.

Typical Application Deadline: November

Typical Deadline to Accept Admission Offer: May

Examples of schools that offer REA are: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Notre Dame and Boston College.

Early Decision Admission

A “binding” application process by which you commit to enrolling in a certain college if you’re admitted. You can apply to other colleges, but only apply ED to one college.

If you decide to apply ED, you must abide by the deadline, which is usually at least six weeks earlier than the regular deadline. The majority of ED 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.

Typical Application Deadline: November

Typical Deadline to Accept Admission Offer: N/A (offer is considered automatically accepted)

Examples of schools that offer Early Decision are: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt University.

FAQs

Should I delay applying to colleges if my SAT/ACT is below their published ranges?

In general, we advise to still apply early and to follow up with updated test scores. The admission scores and grades that colleges show on their websites are averages or ranges—not cutoffs. There are students at every college who scored lower (and higher) than the numbers shown. Remember that colleges consider many factors to get a more complete picture of you.

More than a thousand colleges and universities across the country DO NOT use ACT/SAT scores to admit students. FairTest publishes a list that includes institutions that are "test optional," "test flexible" or otherwise de-emphasize the use of standardized tests by making admissions decisions -- without using ACT or SAT scores -- for all or many applicants. CLICK HERE to view the list!

Should I delay applying to colleges if my GPA is below their published ranges?

In general, we advise to still apply early and to follow up with the school with your 7th semester grades. The admission scores and grades that colleges show on their websites are averages or ranges—not cutoffs. There are students at every college who scored lower (and higher) than the numbers shown. Remember that colleges consider many factors to get a more complete picture of you.

Do my senior year grades matter?

YES, YES, YES! Your senior year schedule is included on your transcript when you apply to colleges. Some schools may request an updated transcript that includes your 1st semester grades (aka 7th semester grades or Mid-Year Report). Plus, you will need to submit a final transcript to the college you plan to enroll. Therefore, it is important that your senior year grades are consistent with your previous academic performance. If not...the college could rescind your admission!

What are the benefits of applying early?

For a student who has a definite first-choice school, applying early has many benefits besides possibly increasing their chance of getting in. Applying early:

Reduces stress by cutting the time a student spends waiting for a decision
Saves students the time and expense of submitting multiple applications
Gives students more time, once accepted, to look for housing and otherwise prepare for college
If student is not accepted, having this information gives that student time to reassess options and apply elsewhere

Can I apply Early Decision to two schools?

Since ED is a binding contract, students cannot enter into two ED agreements at the same time.

Does applying Early Decision increase my chance of acceptance?

Many students believe applying early means competing with fewer applicants and increasing their chances for acceptance. This is not always true. Schools vary in the proportion of the class admitted early and in the percentage of early applicants they admit.

Higher admission rates for ED applicants may correlate to stronger profiles among candidates choosing ED. Students should ask the admissions office whether their institution's admissions standards differ between ED and regular applicants, and then assess whether applying early makes sense given their own profile.

When do I have to decide?

National College Decision Day is May 1st, so you have until then to make your decision and submit your deposit to the college you plan to enroll (the only exception is with Early Decision). This allows you the time to compare financial aid offers and make an informed decision. After May 1st, your spot may not be guaranteed.

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