When I applied to college some years ago, I was really torn about applying early or regular decision. My parents pushed me to apply early to “get it out of the way”. At the time, I didn't have a clear first choice college, and I disagreed with what seems like a logical approach. In the end, I applied regular decision. This debate will be different for everyone.
While the age-old phrase “The early bird gets the worm” is one way to think about the application process, you could also argue that “Slow and Steady wins the race” and take your time applying to a longer list of colleges.
Before you make your decision about your college admissions strategy, make sure you understand the distinctions, costs and benefits of each option:
- Early decision asks the student to commit to the school, no question asked. Students apply early November and receive their admissions notice mid-December, before other students have even submitted their regular decision applications! If you are admitted, you are obligated to attend this college.
- Early action applications offer a tad more flexibility than early decision programs. Students apply early and will receive an admissions notice, however students are under no obligation to attend the school. This sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, there aren’t many schools that offer this option, so it may limit your school selection somewhat.
- Regular Decision is the normal college application process. The deadline is typically early January and leaves students more choice. Students will be notified in April or May and may select their college at that point. There is no obligation to attend the school(s) you have applied to.
So what is the best college admissions strategy for you? Consider these two statements:
- I am really psyched about attending ______________. It is my first choice, without a doubt.
- Price is not an issue. If I apply early, I may not receive the best financial aid package out there, but finances aren’t problem.
If you wholeheartedly agree with points 1 and 2 above, then you should seriously consider applying early decision. If not, then think about applying regular decision. You might find there’s a school out there that you overlooked, and upon admission, discover that this is your dream school!
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