Should I apply early?

Many colleges and universities have Early Decision and Early Action deadlines coming up, some as soon as October 15. One of the strategic decisions I often help students with is deciding whether or not to apply early. Here are a few general thoughts I share with my clients on the different options:

Early Decision: This is a binding agreement with the college where you agree to attend that school if you are accepted during the Early Decision process. You may only apply Early Decision to one college or university at a time. Applying Early Decision can increase your odds of being accepted at that school, so it can be a great option for students who have a clear first choice. The downside is that you probably won't be offered any merit-based scholarships via this route.

Early Action: Early Action is a non-binding way to get an admissions decision back from schools long before the regular admission pool. This may help you to eliminate schools from your college list, and it can also provide peace of mind knowing you have been accepted to one or more schools that you like.

Regular admission: This is a good option for students who want to weigh acceptance offers from multiple schools before deciding which school they want to attend. If you want to wait and see what your financial aid offers are, and if you want to know whether or not you’re eligible for merit-based grants, it can be best to enter the regular admission pools at multiple colleges.

Rolling admission: Some schools do not have a specific deadline for admission. It can be nice to have a rolling admission school or two as backup options in case you are not granted admission to one of your top schools.

Above all else, recognize that your situation is unique! You don’t have to apply Early Decision just because your friends are all doing it. Conversely, it can be kind of nice to have your college decisions for next year made before the winter holiday break—if that’s the right choice for you. This is a great discussion to have with your college admissions counselor. At Confluence College Admissions Consulting, we can help you think these decisions through with your unique situation in mind.

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