Categories of College Decisions

When deciding where to go to college, and when you apply determines what category you’ll be placed in.

Regular Decision 

Applications are accepted by the college until the stated application deadline. All applications are reviewed and decisions are mailed to everyone at the same time, usually in late March or early April, but no later than April 15.

Early Decision
Some students are so sure of their first choice college early in their senior year that they apply for what is known as “Early Decision.” Students who elect this plan agree to withdraw any other applications if the first choice college informs them that they have been accepted. This is a binding agreement to attend if accepted. Notification of acceptance may occur as early as November of the senior year. Depending on the date of notification and deadlines of other colleges of interest, students sometimes need not submit other applications when applying Early Decision. A student may only apply to ONE school for Early Decision.

Early Action
Many colleges offer a plan known as “Early Action.” This differs from Early Decision because students are not committed to enrollment if admitted. Notification of admission is usually received earlier than with Regular Decision. Students then have until the customary Candidates’ Reply Date (May 1) to indicate their intention. For the most part, students may apply under Early Action to as many colleges as they choose, but students should check each school’s policies. Most Early Action applications are due either November 1 or November 15.

Open Admissions
This is a college’s policy to admit high school graduates, generally without regard to conventional qualifications, such as high school subjects, high school grades, and admissions test scores. Thus, virtually everyone who applies is accepted.

Rolling Admissions
Some colleges indicate decisions as soon as they have evaluated a student’s credentials. These decisions are made at any time during the year, usually by February. In most cases, they do not require a response until May 1.

Wait List
Students who are qualified for admissions but whose credentials are not as strong as others in the applicant pool may be placed on the Wait List. They might be offered a place after the May 1 Candidate Reply Date, when the college knows how many students plan to enroll. Some years colleges never utilize their Wait List because the original number of accepted and accepting students meets their fall quota.