Applying to college can be a stressful and intimidating situation. Some guidance is highly recommended when figuring out where you want to spend the next 4 (or more) years of your life. It is a huge commitment you are making, so the more information you have, the better. The three main ways that you are able to apply to college are by early action, early decision, and regular decision.
Choosing to pursue early action is a way to apply early to a college of your choice without needing to commit to that specific college until late spring. You get the admissions decision between the months of January and February instead of later in the year (March or April). This is a great route to take when applying to colleges because it gives you more time to decide what college fits you the best. It also allows for there to be less pressure to make your decision because you have more time to know if you have been accepted, declined, or more time to figure out if that college is right for you. It does, however, tend to be more selective since some colleges do not accept as many applicants during early action.
Early decision is similar to early action but there is one significant difference. With choosing to carry out early decision, you are expected to enroll in that specific college if/when you’ve been accepted. You are also expected to apply only to that specific college – at least until you hear if you have been accepted. This type of appliaction communicates to the school hwo seriously your intention is to attend; it also allows the school to be confident that if they accept you that you are not applying to other schools.
Lastly, regular decision is the most common form of applying. You can submit your applications up until (usually) January first. Another great benefit of choosing regular decision is you can apply to as many schools as you’d like and can make your final decision without any penalty.
One other note, some schools have rolling admissions. This means they do not have a specific deadline for applications but will accept them at anytime. As soon as someone applies, they evaluate the application and let students know if they are accepted. This can be help reduce stress by allowing students to know sooner that they have been accepted to a school.
Applying to college is one of the most important decisions for individuals as they figure out what they want to do with their lives. It can be tense and nerve-racking but there are ways to make your decisions simpler and stress-free.
