I’ve talked about early decision applications which are legally binding, however I’d like to take the time to touch on regular decision applications. 

The regular decision application cycle is what most people think of when they think about college applications: a student submits their application and then on a set date, they find out if they are being offered admission or not. 

Some people might think it isn’t productive to spend so much time working on early applications if the only value is to get your decision early, but this isn’t the case. Applying early shows colleges that you are interested in their school, especially if you apply early decision which is binding. In fact, there is a statistically significant evidence to show that applying ED to certain schools does help your chances of getting in. 

So why doesn’t everyone do it? 

Well first, not all schools have the option to apply early. Some schools only have Restrictive Early Action, which isn’t binding, but it does not let you apply Early Decision or Early Action to any other school. Others have Early Decision but not Early Action, which makes it hard to decide. 

My advice: 

Firstly, figure out where your dream school is. This includes student life, academics, and job opportunities for what you are interested in. Do not go off on prestige alone. 

Second, it is vital that you review how much tuition is and if you or your family can afford. I would advise that no one take out loans if possible. 

It’s my opinion that all safety schools should be submitted early if possible, that way you know you at least have a school to go to if all else fails. Then the more “reach” schools can be spread out from your early pool to your regular pool. 

If college is something one is thinking about, it’s absolutely imperative that they take the process and the time commitment that it takes seriously. 

Next week, I’ll touch on my preparation for interviews.