How You Should Judge Colleges: What Students Should Look For: Admissions Plans

Early Action Plans

Early action, sometimes called a priority application, is a plan where you usually submit your application by November 1, November 15, or December 1. It is a nonbinding application, where you will receive an application decision in January or February, but you will not need to decide if you will attend until May 1. Some colleges also offer a second opportunity to apply early action, referred to as early action II, with later deadlines. Early action is my favorite plan, and one of the most popular ways to apply. You obtain early feedback about your application status and it gives you plenty of time to revisit these campuses. Early action applications are increasingly popular, because it gives students the security of an early acceptance without any commitment. There are many colleges which offer this plan, and if you can get your application completed at the beginning of the school year, it is strongly suggested that you apply to schools with early action. If you are not a viable candidate (i.e. below admission standards), you may be rejected or deferred to the regular decision pool and then you will be notified of a final decision in March or April.

The following schools are some of the colleges that offer early action.

Some Early Action Colleges

• Adelphi University
• Case Western University
• Goucher College
• Gustavus Adolphus College
• Hofstra University
• Northeastern University
• Rutgers University
• State University of New York (SUNY)–Oneonta, New Paltz, Stony Brook
• Suffolk University
• Tulane University
• University of Chicago
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dallas
• University of Maryland–College Park
• University of Massachusetts–Amherst
• University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
• University of Notre Dame

Restrictive Early Action

Restrictive early action, sometimes called single choice early action, is similar to early action except that there are some restrictions placed on where else students may apply. Depending on the wording of each college’s plan, students in some cases may not be able to apply to other early action schools and/or early decision schools. You typically receive an admissions decision in December or January. These plans differ in the restrictions placed upon you, but they all have one thing in common—you do not have to commit to attend. You still have until May 1 to decide to enroll. If you are accepted under this plan, you can accept their offer at that point or you can see where else you are accepted and then make a decision. As the policies and the schools participating in these programs can change yearly, check with each college directly for specific requirements. As of this writing, Boston College, Georgetown University, Stanford University, and Yale University participate in a restrictive early action plan.

Early Decision

Early decision is a plan where you have decided to apply to one college which you believe is the right school, and, if accepted, you will attend. It is a binding, written agreement where you, a parent, and your guidance counselor usually have to sign to indicate that you understand and abide by the terms of the agreement. Early decision deadlines are usually between November 1 and December 1. Some schools offer Early Decision II, a second-chance plan for students who want to commit to an institution, but at a later deadline—usually in January. You can usually apply to other schools, especially those with a rolling or early action deadline. However, if you are accepted to your early decision school, you must immediately withdraw in writing from the other schools to which you applied, whether or not you have received a decision. You receive a financial aid package from your early decision school around the time you get your decision. You can only be released from your early decision agreement if your need for financial aid has not been met by the college and you would not be able to attend with the aid package you received.

If you decide to apply early decision, there are three potential outcomes. The first, happiest, and clearest outcome is that you are admitted to your dream or first-choice school. At that point, you must immediately withdraw from the other colleges to which you applied. A deposit will be required within a short period of time. The other two outcomes are that you may be rejected outright or you may be deferred to the regular decision pool of applicants, where your application will be reviewed again. In both cases, you are released from your agreement, and you are free to apply to other colleges, either for regular decision or to another school for its early decision II deadline (your second-chance early decision school). The following schools are a sample of the colleges that offer early decision plans, although you should check with each institution as policies can change from year to year.

Some Early Decision Schools

• American University
• Boston University
• Clark University
• Connecticut College
• Drew University
• Flagler College
• Franklin & Marshall College
• Middlebury College
• New York University
• Pitzer College
• Pomona College
• Oberlin College
• SUNY Buffalo
• SUNY Geneseo
• Vassar College
• Washington University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Wesleyan University
• Williams College
• Virginia Tech

Some Early Decision II Schools

• Bowdoin College
• Brandeis University
• Bryn Mawr College
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Claremont McKenna College
• College of Wooster
• Davidson College
• Emory University
• Grinnell College
• Kenyon College
• Lehigh University
• Macalester College
• Reed College
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Skidmore College
• Tufts University
• University of Rochester
• Vanderbilt University
• Washington & Lee University

Regular Decision

Regular decision is a plan where students apply by a set deadline specified by each school. Many colleges have regular decision deadlines by January 15th. You typically receive your decision in March or April and then you have until May 1st to inform colleges of your final selection and to send in a deposit. There are also many colleges which have spring and summer deadlines for students who have not yet applied or who were not accepted to any other schools.

Should I Apply Early?

A very common question asked by students and their families is, “Should I apply early?” The answer to this question is not an easy or obvious one, unless you are talking about applying early action. Applying early action is a “no brainer,” as long as your application is ready on time.

Applying early decision is a different ballgame. Since early decision is a binding commitment, you should think very carefully before applying early decision. You should also be aware that there are distinct advantages to doing so. It is a wonderful option for students who have researched at least several schools, and who have determined that their first choice school is the right school for them. You can save a lot of time and the cost of application fees by applying early. However, do not rush to apply and do not feel pressured to apply to an early decision school, unless you are absolutely sure that you belong at that school. Applying early can give you a feeling of security, knowing that if you are accepted you have a place to go in the fall. Then you can begin the exciting preparation of getting ready for college, as long as you don’t forget about the rest of your senior year.

The decision to apply early should not be made lightly, but only after consulting your family and your guidance counselor. Applying early decision is not the time to forge your parent’s signature on this binding contract. Your parents must agree to the financial commitment, although there is a loophole should your financial needs not be met.

Some professionals believe that the early decision option is unfair to students who have not been adequately informed of this option or to those who are not financially comfortable to be able to commit to attending their first choice school. As a result of these concerns, several highly selective colleges, including Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Virginia, have dropped their early decision programs.

One of the main advantages of applying early is that it is commonly known that it is usually easier to be admitted on early decision. Colleges that participate in this program also benefit, because they sometimes take as many as 40 percent of their applicants on early decision. It is a good way for them to build a desirable freshman class, and it gives them the financial security in the early stages of the admissions process.

The chart below highlights the sharp contrast in the percentage of students who were accepted during early decision versus regular decision. These statistics were obtained from each college’s Web site, usually in a section entitled “Freshman or Class Profile of 2012” or by searching “Common Data Set,” a very useful way to find critical information.