Sometimes it feels like the college application process has its own language!

See below for various college application terms.

College application terminology
- Regular Decision
  - Advantages:
    - Applications are due later (Usually January - February), allowing additional time to complete and submit applications.
    - Students do not have restrictions on the number of colleges they can apply to
  - Disadvantages
    - Possibly a lower chance of being accepted because colleges have lower admission rates for Regular Decision applicants than for Early Decision and Early Action applicants.
- Rolling Admissions
  - Advantages
    - Decisions are made as applications “roll in,” usually within 4-8 weeks
    - College accept applications and applicants throughout the year, so students can apply at anytime
  - Disadvantages
    - Once colleges accept enough students, additional applications will not be accepted
    - The later you apply, the less likely you will be accepted
- Early Action (EA)
  - Advantages
    - Students receive decisions from colleges about their admission status early (usually December - February), but they do not have to commit to a college before May 1. This gives students time to compare college characteristics and financial aid offers before committing to attend a particular college. Students may be more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for EA applicants.
    - If students are not accepted to the college they applied to under the EA process, they will have time to apply to other schools under the Regular or Rolling Decision process. Even when students apply to or are accepted by a school under EA, they remain free to apply to any other school using the Early, Regular, or Rolling Admission process.
    - Non-binding commitment
    - Disadvantage
      - Applications are due early - typically November 1-15, but sometimes as early as October! Students will have a busy fall semester applying to college.
    - Early Decision (ED)
      - Advantages
        Students receive decisions from colleges about their admission status early (usually December - January).
        Students may be more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for ED applicants
      - Disadvantages
        Students are only allowed to apply ED to ONE college. If accepted, the student is legally bound to attend that school.
        If a student is rejected by the school they applied to under ED, they must then apply to other schools using the Regular Admission process. ○ Binding commitment
        The ED process should only be used by highly qualified students with superior grades, SAT/ACT test scores, and strong extracurricular activities and by students who are committed to attending the school regardless of financial aid considerations.
    - Restrictive Early Action (ERA)
      - Advantages
        Students receive decisions from colleges about their admission status early (usually December - February), but do not have to commit to attend college before May 1.
        Students may be more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for REA applicants. ○ If a student is rejected under the REA process, they will have time to apply to other schools under the Regular or Rolling Admission process.
        Non-binding commitment
        Disadvantage
        Students are not allowed to apply to any other school using EA or ED applications.

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