Admission terms you should understand before Applying to Colleges
Regular Admission
The most common type of college admission is regular admission. Schools set a specific deadline
for all of the applications, usually between November and January. All applications are reviewed
after the closing date and compared to the others before any acceptance or rejections letters are
sent out
Rolling Admission
Rolling admission relies on a first-come, first-serve approach when it comes to reviewing
applications.
Applications are accepted during a set timeframe but are reviewed as they are received. Acceptance
letters are sent continuously, so those who apply later in the application window automatically have
less of a chance of getting in, even if they qualify, because classes may be full.
That means, for these types of college admissions, applying as soon as possible is imperative!
Early Decision (Binding)
The most restrictive form of early admissions is early decision. Under this program, if accepted, you
must attend the school and you will not be able to apply anywhere else until a decision is made.
This means you can’t apply for early decision at multiple schools all at once. The agreement is
binding, so there can be penalties for going against it.
Additionally, early decision deadlines come up quickly. Most schools require these applications to be
submitted between November 1 and November 15.
However, you should only apply for early decision if you are:
• Completely sure that it is the ideal college for you
• Realistic about your acceptance chances and will likely get in
• Financially prepared to handle the cost
Early Action (Non-Binding)
Early action is like early decision, but it is non-binding. This means you will still be considered for
placement before those who use the regular college admissions deadline, but you do not have to
commit to the school if accepted. Therefore, you can apply to multiple schools for early action
without violating any binding agreement. Then, once you find out whether you have been accepted
to each school, you can choose the option that’s best for you.
Early action usually has a similar deadline as early decision, falling between November 1 and
November 15. However, each school can set their own deadline.