Nothing says happy holidays like having the college application process wrapped up. Imagine the winter break without a looming deadline or unwritten personal essay hanging over your child’s head. This relaxed, joyful vacation is possible for students who take advantage of the early action and early decision options from some major universities. But don’t adhere the stamp to the envelope just yet. These application strategies are not for everyone.
There are two common college application options for early birds who want to receive their acceptances (or denials) before the New Year. The first is early decision. When students apply for early decision, they enter a contract to attend the university (if they are accepted), regardless of the financial aid package offered. As such, students can apply for early decision at only one school. Early decision is a great choice for students who:
- Know exactly which school is their first choice (and that the other schools are distant runners-up)
- Know that money will not be an issue
The odds may be in favor of those who apply for early decision as well. According to Mark Montgomery, an independent college counselor, “Many colleges accept as much as 30-35% of their entire freshman class in the [early decision] process, and usually the pool of [early decision] applicants is smaller than the regular pool. So in a statistical sense, a qualified applicant has a better shot of admission in an [early decision] process than in the regular process.” In addition, some schools have been accused of weighting their freshman classes with early decision applicants. Who can blame them? Especially in this economy, a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.
For students who are equally driven (and slightly impatient) but not married to a particular school, there is early action. Like early decision, early action guarantees a quick response from the universities; however, it does not bind the student to attend any one university. Those who apply for early action are free to apply to multiple universities then wait until all of those universities’ letters of acceptance (and financial aid offers) are on the table before committing to one. It is a worthwhile option for students who are eager to complete the application process but still considering their options.
Early applications sound like terrific strategies for students whose vocabularies do not include the word “procrastinate,” but the relief of your child knowing their fate comes at a price. First, early applicants pay a premium for the submission (the dollar amount differs from school to school). Second, early applicants’ transcripts end after junior year, so academic climbs in the first semester of senior year that boost overall GPAs are forfeited. The same applies to possibly impressive supplemental courses the student is taking at the local community college. Last, early applicants must rely on the SAT or ACT scores they have already received, denying them the opportunity to raise their average by retesting in their senior year.
For those who know which school they want to go to, had strong marks in grades nine through eleven, and didn’t bother to fill out the FAFSA, early applications may be the way to go. But your student doesn’t have much time left. These applications are usually due by mid-November.