Understanding Admissions terms
Glossary of Admission Plans
EARLY DECISION:
Binding for the student and the college
Could be advantageous for the appropriate candidate at a specific school
Deadlines usually November 1 or 15
Some colleges are filling close to half of the class early
Could be less suitable for students with rising records, but not always the case
No ability to compare financial aid, but early offers are generally entirely appropriate
EARLY DECISION II:
A binding agreement for student and college
Deadline usually January 1
File all applications to all colleges on the list
If admitted early by February, all other school applications need to be withdrawn
Offered mostly by smaller colleges and a few others
EARLY ACTION:
Not binding for either party
The student has until May 1 to decide
Can be harder to get in Early Action than Regular Decision at most institutions
Not many colleges offer this plan
RESTRICTIVE EARLY ACTION:
Same as Early Action except student is allowed to file only one early application
ROLLING ADMISSION:
Apply anytime after junior year in high school
Advantageous to apply early in the fall in most cases
Decision is non-binding
Offered mostly by some state universities and a few privates
REGULAR DECISION:
Apply to colleges with varying selectivity and no restrictions
Deadlines vary, but many are January 1 or 15
Decisions arrive in early April
Financial aid packages can be compared if students apply regular decision
Other useful website resources
College Board explains the early decision
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/applications/early
Click here for College Board's suggested early decision early action calendar
Your best resource for any Admission decisions and questions is your admission counselor at the school(s) you plan to attend. Don't be shy. Ask the questions and get the best answer for your situation.