<p>DS has a few schools with rolling admissions. </p>
<p>IF he applies to them, and is accepted, how long will he get to decide if he wants to attend? </p>
<p>We are very much interested in the financial aid packages, and would want to see all before committing. </p>
<p>Can he do that? Or does it depend on the college?</p>
<p>Most colleges require you to accept by May 1, so he’ll have plenty of time to wait for all decisions and FA packages to compare. Some colleges do give a housing preference to those who put down a housing deposit early, but normally those deposits are refundable before May 1. Check, your college could be different.</p>
<p>My son was accepted rolling admissions in September of his senior year, and I don’t believe he had an early deadline. It took a lot of pressure off of him while he was applying to other schools as well as playing a sport. They admitted him in about 2 or 3 weeks and it was almost automatic based on their requirements. </p>
<p>Typically you hear back from rolling admissions schools pretty quickly, if you apply early (I strongly suggest doing so), but you have u til May 1 to decide whether or not to attend. Some give at least merit award info. With acceptance decision, but I don’t know how need based awards work.</p>
<p>Rolling admissions means that schools review applications and make decisions as the applications come in. So when you hear back is directly related to when an application is filed rather than at a certain deadline. Rolling admission schools are not binding and you would have until May 1 to accept or decline an offer. As stated above, some schools giving a preference in housing to people who put in a housing deposit early but sometimes these deposits are refundable before May 1 so check each school’s policy carefully. Be sure if you deposit early it is a housing deposit and not a deposit saying you accept the offer of admission. </p>
<p>Financial aid offers won’t come as rolling admissions do. You likely will have to wait until spring. That’s a reason to be able to change your mind and relinquish your spot in a school by May 1st- after you have all of your acceptances and financial aid offers. You may need to apply for aid and submit required paperwork long before that.</p>
<p>Be aware that housing and admissions can have different deadlines for acceptance of an offer. Housing may require an answer before the school admissions does- read the timing in the information you receive, electronically or in the mail. For example- housing may say if you want to live in the dorm you need to reply with a signed contract within two weeks. Admissions may not have the same restrictions. Also- once you sign a housing contract you are bound to it unless you do not attend the school and would lose your deposit if after the deadline for getting it back. Some schools honor choices for housing in a first come first served manner, others do a lottery in May. Also be aware that if you make the deposits for the school and for housing you may need to request a deposit return separately from each- it may not be sufficient to tell just one to get back both deposits. Read the contracts et al.</p>
<p>Just be sure to read all of the information sent with an offer of admission. Each school chooses how they do things. Do not assume that once you know how school A does things that B, C…will do everything in the same way even if things seem similar.</p>