The college admission process can have lots of lingo that
can be confusing. Ivy Wise posted a
recent blog entry that focused on some important terms and suggestions of what matters when considering which application deadline would be a best fit for
your student. Check out the post below
to ensure that you are making the best choice for you and the institutions that
you are applying.
Applying Early Decision or Early Action: 4 Application
Strategies to Consider
As the back-to-school season kicks off, students across the
country (and world!) are gearing up for the US college admissions process, and
with an abundance of application options available, it’s important for students
to consider how their application strategy can impact their chances of
admission to their top-choice colleges.
First, it’s important for students and parents to understand
how things like grades, essays, recommendations, and demonstrated interest
impact the college admissions process.
Grades are the most important factor that colleges consider
when evaluating applications, so it’s important for students to make sure their
grades are in tip-top shape should they choose to apply early.
Student essays also need to be compelling in order to add context
to the application and reveal something about them that can’t be found anywhere
else in the application.
Other elements like teacher and counselor recommendations
need to be strong and acquired as soon as possible to meet deadlines.
Students also need to consider demonstrated and informed
interest, which is the level of interest and commitment the student has shown
to the school during the admissions process. Have they done thorough research?
Are their supplements complete and thoughtful? Have they visited? Attended an
information session? Been in touch with an admissions officer? And, most
importantly, are they applying early?
All of these elements are critical in the admissions
process, especially if students are applying early decision or early action, as
they’re on a much more compressed application timeline. With all of this in
mind, what are some application strategies that students should consider in
order to maximize their chances of admission to their top-choice schools?
Applying Early Decision (ED)
Applying ED is the most compelling way for students to
demonstrate their interest in a top-choice school because an ED acceptance is
binding – meaning that students agree that if they are accepted they will
enroll. The decision to apply ED should not be taken lightly because even
though the admission rates in the early round are higher compared to the
regular admission round, the applicant pool is considerably more competitive,
and students can only apply to one school ED. Students who apply ED should have
excellent grades, test scores, and complete and compelling applications. When
creating an ED application strategy, students should plan to apply to their
top-choice school ED but continue to work on their Regular Decision
applications for the rest of the schools on their balanced college list in case
they are deferred or rejected from the ED school. ED deadlines are typically
early-to-mid November, with decisions released mid-December, so students will
have to be diligent about completing their essays, supplements, and gathering
all materials well ahead of their peers. Applying ED is a significant
commitment, so students should be 100% sure their ED school is their top-choice
before submitting their application. Students applying ED will only be able to
submit Regular Decision, and in some cases Early Action, applications to other
institutions, so students need to consider how the ED strategy will impact the
rest of their applications. For example, how will applying ED affect your
ability to leverage a legacy or other special applicant status at an SCEA
school on your list?
Applying Early Action (EA) or SCEA (Single Choice or
Restricted Early Action)
If you’re a strong student and ready to apply early but
don’t want the commitment of an ED option – consider applying EA or SCEA.
Again, admission rates are more favorable in the early rounds, but the
applicant pools are considerably more competitive. The EA or SCEA round is also
good choice for students who wish to leverage their legacy status in order to
have the best chance of admission without the commitment of an ED decision.
When applying EA or SCEA students will receive their decisions in mid-December,
but there are some restrictions about where else students can apply. If
applying EA, students can still apply Regular Decision or EA to other
institutions, but SCEA students can only apply Regular Decision to other
institutions – they must wait until they get their SCEA decision before
applying EA or EDII elsewhere unless it’s a public university. It’s wise for
students with strong grades, test scores, and compelling applications to apply
to their top-choice schools EA if possible, while also continuing to work on
Regular Decision applications. Students applying EA or SCEA can be deferred or
denied, leaving open the possibility of applying ED II to another top-choice
university if they decide the EA or SCEA school is no longer the best option
for them.
Applying ED II
Maybe you have a top-choice school in mind but you’re not
quite ready to apply in the ED I round with the November deadline. Maybe you
applied ED or EA to your top-choice school and you were deferred or denied, or
you were accepted to your EA school but now you’re not sure if it’s right for
you and you want to pursue your ED chances at another institution that offers a
later ED II deadline. ED II, while still competitive, offers another chance for
students to demonstrate their interest and commitment to a college albeit with
a later application deadline, usually in early-January or mid-February. ED II
is a great strategy for students who are compelling applicants, but maybe need
a little more time to get their applications in tip-top shape. ED II can also
help students leverage special circumstances like legacy status to have the
best chance of admission without worrying about applying by an earlier
deadline. The ED II application strategy can be used as a first pass at an ED
round, or as a second option should students’ other ED or EA application
strategies not work out in their favor. Again, ED II is binding, so students
should work with their college counselors to make sure this application option
is the best option for their goals and can help them have the best chance of
admission.
Holding Off Until the Regular Round
In some cases, applying ED, ED II, EA, or SCEA isn’t in the
best interest of the student. Maybe he or she needs more time to improve grades
or test scores, or maybe the student got a late start on his or her college
applications and needs more time to get everything completed. While applying ED
or EA can be a great strategy for certain students, it can be detrimental to
some. Again, early rounds are competitive, and if a student applies with grades
and test scores that are not competitive, or with a rushed application that isn’t
compelling, applying early can significant hurt their chances of admission –
most likely resulting in a rejection. In some cases, applying to a top-choice
school in the regular round can yield better results for a student than
applying early. It’s important for students to meet with their college
counselors in order to gain a realistic expectation of their admission chances
and whether or not applying early will help or hurt their application.
Developing an application strategy is a critical part of the
college admissions process and can often be the difference between an
acceptance or a rejection at students’ top-choice school.
