College Applications . . . Apply Early Or Else!

This fall, apply to colleges and universities using one of three types of early applications or else you may lose some real significant advantages. But BEWARE, there are some pitfalls.

The main advantages for applying early are increased chances for admission and increased odds for receiving substantial financial aid awards (deadlines for early applications typically are between October 15 and November 30). There are other advantages, too.

1. The best type of early application for students in need of financial aid is Early Application (often called Multiple-Choice Early Action):

a. Under Early Application, student applicants are more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for early applicants. A side benefit of applying Early Application is if students are not accepted to the colleges they applied to, they still have adequate time to apply to other colleges and universities under the Regular Application process.

b. Colleges and universities award scholarships and grants from “pools” of financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Applying early substantially increases students’ eligibility to receive merit-based scholarships, and to a lesser extent, increases the odds of receiving need-based scholarships and grants.

c. Students receive decisions from colleges about their admission status early (before the December holidays), but do not have to commit to attend college before May 1. This gives students plenty of time to compare college characteristics and financial aid offers before committing to attend a particular college. In effect, this allows students to “shop” for colleges.

d. Under Early Application, even when students apply to a college (or are accepted to a college), they remain free to apply to any other college and university using any admission processes (Early, Regular, Rolling or Late).

e. As mentioned above, under Early Application, applications typically are due October 15 – November 30, but students are not required to commit to attending a specific college until May 1.


2. Single-Choice Early Action has the same advantages as Early Application BUT students are allowed to apply to only one school using early applications. In other words, students are prevented from applying to other schools using any type of early application, either Early Application, Single-Choice Early Action, or Early Decision. Because students are forbidden to submit early applications to more than one school under Single-Choice Early Action, the chances for acceptance to other schools is reduced because they can only apply to other schools using Regular, Rolling or Late applications.


3. Early Decision is the last type of early application process. The advantages of Early Decision are students are more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for Early Decision applicants. An additional advantage is students find out early if they’re accepted (college decision letters/e-mails are sent to students between December 1 and 15). HOWEVER, students are permitted to apply to one and only one college or university and if accepted, they are legally bound to attend that school BEFORE ANY FINANCIAL AID IS AWARDED (students may receive financial aid, but they must accept admission before any aid is awarded). Again, students are forbidden to apply to all other schools. Early Decision applications are recommended only for student applicants with incredibly strong qualifications who possess a very strong desire to attend their top choice college and have only a slight or non-existent need for financial aid.

All colleges and universities offer one of these three options for applying early. The advantages and main disadvantages of each type are presented here; make sure your colleges offer the application option best for you.

But whatever you do, APPLY EARLY! For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org