As we bundle up and wrap our gifts, high school seniors across the nation are bundling their Common Apps and wrapping up their supplemental essays. Understanding the college application timeline reveals why high schoolers have more to stress about than just family drama this holiday season.
The Ghost Of Deadlines Past
The Common App is a digital platform that allows seniors to apply to multiple universities with a single application. The Common App has become the default gateway to college admissions in the United States, thanks to its simplified structure and vast university selection. There are multiple application deadlines on the site that seniors can choose to participate in, with exact deadlines varying by university.
Typically, Nov. 1 marks the early action deadline. Students who apply early action are rewarded for their proactiveness with a smaller applicant pool and an early notification of enrollment status.
Nov. 1st to Nov. 15 usually contains the early decision I deadline; however, some universities require this application as early as Oct. 15. Similar to early action, early decision I offers the same perks but with one key difference: Students who apply early decision I can only do so to a single university, and, if accepted, these students are legally bound to attend. Early decision I can give students the absolute best chance to earn enrollment to their dream school, but they must be cautious of the risks involved in binding themselves to a single university.
The Ghost Of Deadlines Present
Early action and early decision I are not applicable to all students. Students who appreciate the competitive edge offered by early decision I but feel they could benefit from more time to refine their application can participate in early decision II. Early decision II applications are commonly due by Dec. 1 to Dec. 15; however, not all universities participate in this offering.
For the majority of high school seniors, the deadline to worry about is the regular decision. This deadline can span from Jan. 1 to Feb. 1. Regular decision applicants enjoy more time to polish essays, gather recommendations and take standardized tests; however, they also are placed in the largest applicant pool, making competition higher.
The Ghost Of Deadlines Yet To Come
Select universities follow a rolling admission structure. These schools accept applications until spots are filled, which can fall as late as early spring.
Once everything has been submitted, the pressure of meeting deadlines is pivoted onto the institutions. The deadline of notification often marks a time of excitement and nervousness for high school seniors. Those who applied via early action or early decision I are notified between mid-Dec. and early Jan. Those who applied via early decision II are notified early to mid-Feb., and those who applied via regular decision are notified between mid-March and early April.
To all seniors who have finished, are currently filling out, or are just starting their college applications, we wish you the very best of luck in whatever post-secondary path you choose.
