Guide to Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Interim Decision, etc. etc.

Applying to College
1

<p>Since all types of questions concerning this pop up a lot come application season, I thought I’d put this comprehensive guide out for those who want to familiarize them with these different application timelines. Keep in mind that you should choose your colleges and prioritize them, THEN consider ED vs. EA vs. RD, etc.</p>

<p>EARLY DECISION
Binding
In ED, you apply to your first choice school and if you are accepted, you are legally bound to withdraw your other college applications and matriculate at the school. There are some exceptions (e.g. in cases of insufficient financial aid) but in general, only apply ED if you are absolutely confident that you’ll be happy at the school and if you’re secure financially. It is NOT easy to get out of ED (or else it'd defeat its purpose). You can only apply to ONE school ED. You may apply to other schools RD, Interim Decision, and Rolling Admissions. In rare cases, some schools allow you to apply unrestricted EA to other schools as well, but this is uncommon so DO YOUR RESEARCH. Keep in mind that your offer of admission may be rescinded if the school discovers you violated its ED policy. </p>

<p>Possible results:
1. Accepted. Congratulations! You matriculate in the fall! Withdraw all other applications, sit back, and relax. You’re in.
2. Deferred. You haven’t been admitted but keep your hopes up. Your application is automatically forwarded to the RD round where you may have another chance to be accepted. If you are accepted RD, you are no longer under the ED binding policy so may choose whether or not to matriculate. Work on your other college and financial aid applications.
3. Denied. The school has decided that they will not accept you for the incoming class. You cannot reapply for this year and your application will not be forwarded to the RD round.</p>

<p>Pros: Shows interest, smaller applicant pool, focus on only one application, lower stress senior year if accepted, time and money on other applications saved if accepted
Cons: Stronger applicant pool, no senior year grades, cannot compare financial aid packages, must matriculate.</p>

<p>EARLY ACTION
Non-binding
In EA, you apply according to a timeline similar to ED (applications generally due around November 1st, decisions by mid-December) but if you are accepted, you can wait for RD result to come in before finally choosing your school in May. This is a good choice for those who have a strong first choice school but do not want to be locked into the binding policy. Since it’s non-binding, there is no financial risk. There are two broad categories under which each college’s individual EA policy falls.</p>

<p>Unrestricted Early Action
If you apply Unrestricted EA to a school, you may also apply at other schools early as long as they, too, are Unrestricted EA. For example, Georgetown has an Unrestricted EA policy. You may apply EA to Georgetown and at the same time, apply at any other school Unrestricted EA. However, if you apply to Georgetown Unrestricted EA, according to its EA policy you cannot apply to any other school Single Choice Early Action or Early Decision. You may apply Rolling Admissions, Regular Decision, and Interim Decision at other schools. There may be slight variations to this from school to school so again, DO YOUR RESEARCH.</p>

<p>Single Choice Early Action
You may apply to only ONE school SCEA. If you apply SCEA at one school, you cannot apply to any other school under any ED or EA policy. Stanford for example, offers SCEA. So if you apply SCEA to Stanford, you may only apply Rolling Admissions, Interim Decision, and Regular Decision at other schools. </p>

<p>Possible results:
1. Accepted. Congratulations! You definitely have a college to go to. If you’re still not sure this school is right for you, keep on working on your other applications and send them in. EA is non-binding!
2. Deferred. You haven’t been admitted but keep your hopes up. Your application is automatically forwarded to the RD round where you may have another chance to be accepted.
3. Denied. The school has decided that they will not accept you for the incoming class. You cannot reapply for this year and your application will not be forwarded to the RD round.</p>

<p>Pros: Shows interest, smaller applicant pool, lower stress senior year if accepted, flexibility
Cons: Stronger applicant pool, no senior year grade</p>

<p>ROLLING ADMISSIONS/INTERIM DECISION
I will only briefly mention these two because they are not as common or as restrictive. In Rolling Admissions, applications are accepted and reviewed as they come in until the class is filled. So, if you apply early you learn about your decision earlier, which may be very helpful to you, and if you for some reason must apply very late in an application season, Rolling Admissions schools may offer you another way into college. Penn State, for example, accepts applications on a rolling admissions basis but warns that applicants that apply after November 30th may find popular programs filled. Also, some schools begin Rolling Admissions only after the Regular Decision period.</p>

<p>In Interim Decision, you apply non-binding but in a time period later than ED/EA and earlier than RD. Usually, ID does not conflict with ED or SCEA because you are notified after any early results come out. The possible results of ID are also accepted, waitlisted, or denied. Rice University lets you place any restrictions on what schools you can apply to if you choose to apply to Rice ID.</p>

<p>REGULAR DECISION
Simple enough. Deadlines vary from school to school so keep on top of them. This is the normal route for many colleges, such as the UCs, and many students as well.</p>

<p>Possible results:
1. Accepted. Congratulations! You definitely have a college to go to. Chances are you’ve been accepted at more than one school RD so review all the schools again, compare packages, talk with current students and alumni, and make that final decision.
2. Waitlisted. Some schools have a waitlist where they place students who didn’t quite make the first cut but will be reconsidered for admission if that college needs to fill more spots after matriculation results come in. If you’re on a waitlist and you really want to get into that school, now’s the time to show interest, send in new grades and information, just get personal with the school! If you decide that the school wouldn’t be right for you, get off the waitlist, have one less thing to worry about, and give someone else a better chance.
3. Denied. Know that this happens to almost all applicants and that the adage that a college admission is like a lottery game has a degree of truth to it. Keep your chin up and focus on your acceptances!</p>

<p>Pros: Less self-selecting applicant pool, senior year grade boosts, complete flexibility, senior year teacher recommendations
Cons: More difficult to demonstrate interest, generally lower acceptance rate compared to EA/ED, need to handle many applications at one time</p>

<p>MISCELLANEOUS
For many colleges, EA and ED are open only to United States citizens and permanent residents, not internationals.
Cannot stress enough, RESEARCH your schools. Each school has unique timelines and rules for application and depending on which schools you apply to, there can be different combinations of these timelines. If you’re still completely confused, the best resource is the admissions officers of the school in question. Just give them a call!</p>

<p>Hope this helps (=</p>

2

<p>Thanks Deb, that explains alot.</p>

3

<p>we were given a "college guidebook" for juniors/seniors explaining all this stuff, and under EA and ED, it said EA/ED applicants may SOMETIMES have grades a bit lower than those in the regular admissions pool. I guess the assumption is that if you're stats are somewhat lower than RD applicant stats, you should apply early, due to the smaller applicant pool and maybe that way you'll have greater chance of admittance ?</p>

4

<p>A large part of the ED pool consists of "hooked" applicants who it is in their best interest to apply early. These hood applicants include legacies, recruited athletes, developmental admits. While URMs are considered hooked applicants, many do not apply ED unless they are absolutely certain a school is the school for them because they will still be URMs in the RD round.</p>

5

<p>o yikes, if EA/ED decisions come out in Dec, then I guess you can take all your tests (act, sat subject tests, sat) in November for the last time ?</p>

6

<p>ED II is, like ED I, designed to increase a college's yield. When students apply ED, they usually apply to the most selective school on their list to try to gain an advantage. If they are deferred or rejected, ED II colleges try to snag them as applicants. Many LACs have ED II.</p>

7

<p>What is the timeline like for EDi and EDii? If D applies ED to her reach school, the application is most often due Nov 1, yes? Their answer is supposed to come within 2 weeks, is that correct? If she were rejected, at that point she can apply EDii to her favorite match school? What do the EDii dates tend to be?</p>

<p>Sort of off topic: Two of D's favorite schools report almost identical SAT/ACT averages, selectivity ratings, size of student body, but one school's acceptance rate is 30% lower. How does that happen? More desirable location of a school, or possibly the school just so happens to get more applicants of the level they're looking for?</p>

8

<p>So, if I do EA, do I have a better or worse chance of being accepted then if I did RD? On the one hand, with EA you have a smaller applicant pool, which you'd think would increase your chances. But on the other hand, the applicant pool is stronger, which you'd think would decrease your chances. So which is it? Do I have a better or worse chance of getting in with EA?</p>

9

<p>If you feel that you are ready for EA (you have a strong record through junior year, get strong grades 1st marking period, senior year, have all of your testing done by Oct) work on your essays and the schools are definitely on your radar apply EA. It's non-binding. Like debryc stated, if admitted you know that you have a school under your belt and it takes some of the pressure off. If deferred work with your GC to find out where there are gaps in your application and work to fill them.</p>

<p>Word to the wise, have your other applications ready to go by the time the decisions come in. If sucessful, you can have a shredding party if your finished or you will have some renewed confidence about sending out the other applications. </p>

<p>If the worse happens and you are straight out rejected, your head may not be in the place to do your best work in finishing up the rest of the applications</p>

10

<p>EDII is just like EDI. your app is due Jan 1 just like RD so you need all your applications in to be safe. you get your decision around mid febuary. few schools offer EDII. It was meant to allow students with poor guidance and those who chose their #1 school later to still apply ED, but i guess it was used more for people who didnt get into their #1 school. it isnt offered at many places (but is used by Tufts). </p>

<p>My question is how many people deffered from ED and EA will get in RD?</p>

11

<p>I have a 4.0uw and have a chance of getting a B during my senior year (French AP). My SAT is also decently high, and I have good test scores. I also have good summer work experience, and have worked every summer of highschool. However, I'm somewhat lacking in EC's. I'm working on them right now (about 25 hr/wk now, and I've done planning for an international scale volunteer project which counts too, so I'll have 150 hrs easily if I scrounge for them), but I'm not the leader of anything really (although I do want to start a web design club at school). Is SCEA @ Stanford a good choice for me, or would rolling be better? </p>

<p>Off-topic: If I write a paper on the client authorization system I'm working on (nothing complicated or groundbreaking, but it's quite secure) and present it to the medical group I'm working with, how much would that help my application? </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
o yikes, if EA/ED decisions come out in Dec, then I guess you can take all your tests (act, sat subject tests, sat) in November for the last time ?

[/quote]

Yup. With some schools it's even October because EA/ED applications are usually due November ^^. Plan ahead.</p>

<p>
[quote]
how many people deffered from ED and EA will get in RD?

[/quote]

It'll always depend from school to school but EA deferrees definitely stand a decent chance. A deferral means "something about your application makes us want to take a look at you again" and it never hurts to show that you are really intersted in the school.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Is SCEA @ Stanford a good choice for me, or would rolling be better?

[/quote]

vgcoder, I try not to predict chances but I can give general guidelines. Stanford does not offer rolling admissions, only SCEA and RD. There are two schools of thought on applying early to reach schools. One is if Stanford is clearly your dream school, apply SCEA. The other is, use your EA card wisely and apply to a school that's more of a match. I belong to the first. Your 4.0uw is strong, especially if it is from a high school with a strong academic reputation among colleges. Senior year grades are not reported with SCEA but colleges may choose to call your guidance counselor/teachers for interim grades. With EC, if your activity MEANS something to you, if you have PASSION for it, and you SHOW it in your essays, no matter what it is it can be a plus. What colleges don't want to see is a laundry list of activities that you seem to do simply for college applications.</p>

13

<p>to be honest with you vgcoder, you're going to be competing with people who are like you... or better. my friend got a 2400/800/800/800, #1, started 2 clubs, did medical internships, had great essays, and was deffered and later rejected. i think in addition to getting excellent test scores and grades, you need some PASSION. and when i mean passion, i mean passion. i don't think starting your own club is enough unless it has real depth and breadth. good luck though.</p>

14

<p>Thank you for this great info!</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
If deferred work with your GC to find out where there are gaps in your application and work to fill them.</p>

<p>Word to the wise, have your other applications ready to go by the time the decisions come in. If sucessful, you can have a shredding party if your finished or you will have some renewed confidence about sending out the other applications.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>sybbie719, just wanted to quote a portion of what you said to make it stand out because this is really good advice. Thank you for pointing it out.</p>

<p>
[quote]
explanation of Midyear decision, please!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>flootloop, Midyear Decision lets you apply to a college in order to enter the following spring semester. Applications are generally due around November and you hear of the decision by December. However, you must decide whether or not to attend that college by January and soon after, matriculate.</p>

<p>As an example, let's say you applied to Scripps under Midyear Decision and are accepted.
November 1st, 2006 - Application and Financial Aid forms due. You hit the send button three minutes before deadline
December 15th, 2006 - Admissions results and preliminary financial aid award available. Congratuations, you've been accepted!
January 1st, 2007 - Candidate must reply with your decision to matriculate or not. You say yes.
January 13th, 2007 - Spring semester orientation. You meet lots of cool people.
January 16th, 2007 - Class begins. You rush into your 9:00 am lecture late and say the alarm didn't go off but really, you were too busy staying up and having fun with your dormmates the night before.</p>

<p><em>wink</em></p>

<p>Seniors in high school generally do not take this route. They want to graduate high school afterall. This is more for college freshmen. If someone graduates high school and attends a community college for the first semester, he or she can apply Midyear Decision to finish his or her undergraduate education at a different college. Someone who needed to take a "gap semester" also finds Midyear Decision helpful.</p>

16

<p>What effect does EA have on merit aid? Is there more money in the pot early in the game, or less, because they know they kind if have you, or at least they know they are probably one of your first choices?
Also, why would all the "hooked " applicants go EA? If they know they are in, what's the rush? Not sure I understand why the applicant pool is necessarily stronger in EA...
Does the common data set for each college ususally have the stats that will show chances EA vs RD etc?
Thanks for starting this thread, very helpful!</p>

17

<p>It's that time again. (=</p>

18

<p>hah good bump</p>

19

<p>If our common ap gets "frozen" once submitted and can't be altered, do all colleges we apply to see our indication of selecting "EA" for the first one we submit?</p>

20

<p>Rest assured the other colleges won't know through Common App which college you are applying to EA.</p>