It seems like sometimes school is never ending. You finish your senior year and work hard to keep your GPA up and study for finals and then college applications come quicker than you know it. Or maybe you’ve been out of school for a while and are looking to receive higher education. No matter which path you are on, it’s important to celebrate your decision to reach for a higher education and advance yourself even further in life.
Although college applications may seem tricky, in this article we will break down the best time to apply for colleges so that you can get the optimum amount of acceptance letters and attend the school of your dreams. While it sounds overwhelming at first, we’re sure you’ll be well prepared by the end of this article.
Today we will be addressing:
- Understanding different types of applications
- Ways to prepare yourself
Understanding Application Types
There are a wide variety of different college applications to choose from that can influence the ways that you get accepted into your college or choice. In this section we will go over the benefits of each and see if any of them fit your needs.
Early Decision (ED)
Early decision applications are binding college applications typically used by students who are applying to their first school of choice. Early decision applications are typically submitted by November and students receive a letter of acceptance or denial by early December. If the student is accepted into their college, their application acts as a legally binding agreement that virtually automatically agrees to their attendance and they are forced to withdraw their applications to other schools.
Pros:
- The student’s chances of being accepted into their top school is higher.
- Early acceptance means that students can be more relaxed and prepare ahead of time for their next school year.
- An early decision application signals to schools that the student is confident in their choice to attend there.
- Students can receive priority when it comes to housing and roommate placements.
- Students can receive their financial aid package sooner and have a longer time to prepare financially.
Cons:
- While you may have more time to prepare financially, early decision applications can also hold you back from comparing financial aid options with other schools you may have applied for.
- Early decision applications can be stress inducing because it can withhold you from being able to change your mind in the long term.
- Once you apply for early decision and withdrawal applications to other schools, you may run the risk of not getting into your top school of choice resulting in needing a back up plan.
- Applying for an early decision, before visiting the campus directly, leads to potentially being unhappy with the location of the school.
While early decision doesn’t fit the needs for every student, it is a good option for those who think that the pros outweigh the cons!
Early Action (EA)
Early action is when a student submits an early decision application, however, they are not legally binded to attend that school just yet. Similarly to early decision, early action applicants typically receive their acceptance or denial letters in December or January. This is a good application choice for those who are afraid to fully commit to a school but still prioritize it over other options.
Pros:
- Early action allows for students to have a longer time to decide what college they want to attend while also still having the safety of knowing they got into their top school.
- Early action leads to a higher chance of acceptance.
- Students can save money by refraining from applying to too many other schools.
- Early action still allows for students to compare financial aid packages from other schools.
- If an early action application is denied, students have the chance to rewrite or change their application before applying to other schools.
Cons:
- Students risk getting denied from their top school when they still have time to revise their application.
- Students risk the chance of accepting their admission too early out of excitement.
- Students take standardized tests early and risk not getting a higher school due to the need to submit a score with their early action application.
While early action does come with risks, it is a good option for those who find early decision to be appealing but are still too afraid to commit to that form of application.
Regular Decision
Although the other options may seem compelling, there's also nothing wrong with applying with regular decision. As a regular decision applicant you will submit your college applications in January and will receive your acceptance letters by March or April.
Pros:
- Students have an ample amount of time to retake standardized tests and submit a score to colleges that they are confident in.
- There is less of a pressure to make a haste decision and students can compare financial aid packages among all schools all at the same time.
- Students have an ample amount of time to go on college tours during winter and spring break, if they so choose to.
- Students have more time to revise and fix their applications and reread their college essays and compare them to others.
- Students can learn more about each college that they apply to and do research on its campus culture and student engagement.
Cons:
- Regular decisions can be highly competitive and students risk not being accepted from most of their top picks.
- Students may not receive priority when it comes to housing because of early decision and early action applicants.
- Students can be more stressed out and tense about whether or not they got accepted into their top school.
- It can be difficult for students to stay on top of college application deadlines when applying for a regular decision.
Similar to the previous options it is clear that the choice of how students choose to apply to colleges vary on their needs and individual comfortability. While it does offer some benefits, it is worth making sure that it is the right option for you.
Ways to prepare yourself
There are various ways that students can prepare themselves in order to submit the best application possible! It’s important to realize that colleges love when their applicants stand out amongst others and genuinely show their true selves when submitting their application. So although there is no magical format to ensure you get into the college of your dreams, there are steps you can take to make sure you are happy with the way that you represent yourself.
Extracurriculars
Not only do colleges value academics, but they also value students who are extremely well-rounded in all aspects of life because at the end of the day that’s what truly matters! Not only are extracurriculars a great way to socialize, but they are also a good way to learn various different life skills that can help you academically as well. If you are passionate about the sport you play, the book club you are a part of, or even a church that you volunteer at then make sure to include that in your essay portion of your application!
Staying genuine
When writing a college essay, many students think that they have to portray themselves as the perfect individual. When, in reality, we all know that everyone makes mistakes. What makes some applicants stand out amongst others is when their personal essays come off as genuine and insightful. It’s okay to reveal the ways in which you struggled and how it might have led you to not have the greatest GPA. What admissions counselors want to see are the ways in which you’ve overcome adversity and learned from your challenges. So don’t shy away from the more negative aspects of your life, especially if it has helped shape you into the person that you are!
Study
Although grades aren’t everything, they do play a factor in admissions. When preparing for standardized tests it's important that you are well prepared in the style of questions that are typically asked on the SAT and ACT. Thankfully, if you do not have access to a private tutor, there are free pdfs of previous standardized tests on collegeboard.com that any student can access to test their knowledge. Make sure you eat a well balanced breakfast and get enough rest the night before the exam and you’re sure to do great.
Why does this matter?
Navigating through college can be difficult as it is when it comes to social changes, relocation, and potentially moving away from family, so take some stress off of your shoulders by making applying to college the easiest part. If you do not get into your dream school, then that is also okay! Every student’s educational path varies and it's important to not compare your acceptances or denies with those around you. It doesn’t make you a bad student, unfortunately rejection is just a part of life!
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