<p>I'm sure there are a hundred threads with the same question, but I'm on break and the allure of the beach outweighs CC. Here are my questions:</p>
<p>What are all the different types of admissions?</p>
<p>What types of admissions do all schools have?</p>
<p>What are each type of admissions' advantages and disadvantages?</p>
<p>How committed should one be in order to apply via each type?</p>
<p>Thanks for answering my questions. I'm a junior and I already have an idea about ED and EA but I'm not quite sure what are their individual pros and cons. Thanks!</p>
<p>Early Decision
-Apply earlier than the regular deadline
-Receive your decision earlier
-Usually increases your chances of admission
-It is binding, so you have to go if you’re admitted (or at least can’t go elsewhere)
-Can only get out of it for financial reasons, but then you’ve lost other opportunities</p>
<p>Early Action
-Apply earlier than the regular deadline
-Receive your decision earlier
-Generally doesn’t increase chances
-Non-binding, usually have until May 1st (like all others) to decide</p>
<p>Rolling Admission
-Apply earlier or on time
-Receive your decision on a timeline based on when you submitted
-Applying earlier sometimes boosts chances
-Non-binding</p>
<p>Regular Decision
-Apply with the standard deadline (often around Jan 1st)
-Find out usually by or before April 1st
-Have until May 1st to decide
-Advantage: have more time to build up scores/grades/activities before applying
-Non-binding</p>
<p>To the ED list I would add, NOT recommended if you want to compare FA offers.</p>
<p>“Can only get out of it for financial reasons, but then you’ve lost other opportunities”</p>
<p>If you applied ED1, you’ve lost other ED1 opportunities, but not other ED2 or EA or rolling or RD opportunities. If you decline an ED offer for financial reasons, you apply elsewhere as if your ED attempt never happened.</p>
<p>Don’t some schools restrict applying EA under an ED1 plan? Check out the policy for your chosen school.</p>
<p>I know that BC does that if you apply elsewhere ED…what’s the difference between ED1 and ED2?</p>
<p>Some schools have an ED2 where those unsuccessful elsewhere at ED (or ED1) time can have a second chance.</p>
<p>ED is not a good idea unless you are 100% sure that you want to attend that school. Lots of people change their minds over the course of their senior year but they are stuck if they go the ED route.</p>
<p>Which type of schools generally have an ED2 option?</p>
<p>The basics:
Regular: normal admissions procedure. You apply, they review your application, you will hear back on a set date, usually in March or April
Rolling: the applications are reviewed as they come in. The earlier you apply, the sooner you will hear back (i.e. I applied to PSU in October and heard back in 3 weeks, whereas my friend applied in late November when lots of other apps were coming in and she didn’t hear till January)
Priority: Usually 1-2 months before the deadline for regular decision. Priority may boost your chances of admissions since your application is reviewed earlier. Sometimes you must apply by the priority deadline date in order to be considered for scholarships, or to hear your admissions decision earlier.</p>
<p>ED/EA
Early Decision: BINDING. The deadline for applying is early, usually around November 1st. If you are accepted, you MUST attend. Only apply if it is your definite no-doubt die-hard 1st choice school.
Early Action: non-binding. The deadline is also early. You are not forced to attend if you are accepted, and you still have until May 1st to make a decision. Apply if you are a good applicant. It can’t hurt.
SCEA: Single-choice early action. It is just like regular Early Action, except you can only apply early to ONE school. Yale, Georgetown, and Stanford all have this. It is non-binding. Apply if it is one of your top-choice schools and you think that you have a good shot at admissions, because you are sacrificing your higher chance of admissions at all other EA schools by applying SCEA.
ED1/ED2: Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2. Some schools have 2 Early Decision applicant pools. One will have an early deadline, while the other will have a deadline around the RD deadline. Both are binding. The advantage of ED1 is that you might need to apply by ED1 to be considered for scholarships or other opportunities. ED2 has a later deadline so you can put together a better application.</p>
<p>ED and EA have higher acceptance rates than the RD acceptance rate. However, some colleges highly stress that you only apply ED or EA if you have above a high minimum SAT score or GPA. If you are not accepted ED or EA, you can be deferred, which means your application will be put in the regular applicant pool and be re-evaluated against all of the RD applicants, so you have a chance of being accepted.</p>
<p>Well, all schools have RD. Many state schools and other large institutions also have Rolling or Priority admissions. Many schools, especially smaller schools and LACs, have ED. EA is less common these days, and many schools are getting rid of EA (except Harvard, which is reinstating it for next year’s applicants). ED1/ED2 is rare. SCEA is also rare and usually only exists at the top schools.</p>
<p>“Early Decision: BINDING. The deadline for applying is early, usually around November 1st. If you are accepted, you MUST attend.”</p>
<p>… unless you applied for financial aid, and not enough was offered to enable you to attend. In that case you say thanks but no thanks, and apply elsewhere under one of the other options, subject to appropriate deadlines.</p>
<p>What is the difference between being deferred and being waitlisted?</p>
<p>Deferred usually applies to not being accepted at ED or EA time, but not rejected either. They’ll have another look at you at RD time.</p>
<p>Waitlisted usually applies to RD time, when you’re not accepted or rejected, but put in limbo, awaiting a later decision by the school, as it fills any remaining seats (sometimes there are some, sometimes not).</p>
<p>Being deferred occurs during early action. Essentially, the college tells you that you aren’t a good enough applicant to get in early, but you have a chance in the regular pool. If you are deferred, your application usually goes into the regular pool, you don’t have to do anything, and it’s just like you’re applying regular. Waitlisting occurs during regular decision, and means that you will only get to go to the school if a place opens up for you. Waitlisted applicants are often ranked in order of the school’s preference, and they will draw off the waitlist if a spot opens up, and only if a spot opens up.</p>
<p>To sum up: Deferring happens during EA, and gives you another chance at application. Waitlisting happens during RD, and means that you will only get to go if a spot opens.</p>
<p>I believe Harvard and Princeton are going to be SCEA, not just regular EA.</p>
<p>Also, adding on to 2CHiLLaXiN’s excellent guide, a lot of athletes and legacies apply ED and EA. While it’s generally agreed that ED boosts one’s chances, don’t be fooled by higher admit rates for students applying EA and SCEA–these are often because a lot of recruited athletes will apply early.</p>
<p>Deferring can also happen during ED, not just EA.</p>