You have created a list of universities and considered them closely in relation to your preparedness in the key areas of engagement across Grades 9 – 11.
You have researched the admit rates of the universities and used a variety of predictive tools to determine the likelihood of your application being successful.
Using all the information at your disposal you carefully sorted your list according to your chances of admission:
- >75% chance of admission = LIKELY
- 25% – 75% chance of admission = TARGET
- 10% – 25% chance of admission = REACH
- <10% chance of admission = FAR REACH
You have placed yourself in the best position to celebrate when the admissions letters arrive, by having the majority of the universities on your list in the Target and Likely Range with a scattering of Reach and Far Reaches where such universities meet your requirements.
You have kept in mind, throughout this list creation process, that it is not where you go to school that matters, it’s what you do when you get there. Whether it be at a Likely or Far Reach university, by engaging in the undergraduate experience, studying hard, forming strong relationships with those around you and participating in the learning and social communities, you will thrive before and after graduation.
It seems that everything is on track but are you ready to apply?
To answer this question, you will need to ask yourself whether your Grade 9-11 profile, including any standardised test scores, showcases your academic strengths and your various talents in the best light or do you need your first semester of Grade 12 to enhance your profile so that you can put your best foot forward?
If you need more time, aim to submit your application using the Regular Decision (RD) deadline which usually falls in early January.
As an RD applicant, you have an additional semester of grades and activities to add to your application and by dedicating yourself to the enhancement of your profile, especially in regards to your grades and standardised test scores, you will be able to submit an application that shows you in the best possible light.
With RD you can apply to as many schools as you wish and you will receive your admission decisions in early March or April. Since your offers are non-binding and you have no obligation to enrol it gives you plenty of time to compare your offers from other universities before deciding upon which to attend. The downside of applying RD, however, is that you will be placing your application in the largest applicant pool.
If, on the other hand, you believe that your present profile is an accurate reflection of your high school journey and you are ready to apply, then you are in the enviable position of not only being able to apply RD to many schools on your list but also strategically to those schools with early application plans.
Universities in need to meet their class quotas, and early application plans allow them to not only finalise a portion of the class early but also enable you to take advantage of increased admission rates. There are a variety of early admissions plans available in the US each with its own benefits and shortcomings.
Early Decision 1 (ED):
The ED application deadline is usually early to mid-November and you will receive a decision in early to mid-December. If you apply to ED you cannot apply elsewhere ED, but you can apply to universities with other application plans. You must be aware, however, that if you are accepted at your ED university, your acceptance is binding. This means that you are expected to attend and you must withdraw all other applications.
Pros:
- If accepted, you will know early where you will be attending.
- Your application may be deferred to the regular decision pool if not accepted early.
- Applying early means that you are applying with a smaller applicant pool
- You have a significant advantage in regards to a higher acceptance rate for qualified applicants
- You will have an admissions decision earlier than those who apply in the regular decision round giving you time to apply elsewhere if unsuccessful.
- If you are accepted, it cuts down on additional admission stress.
Cons:
- Binding (obligated to enrol)
- You will have to apply with the profile you will have achieved up to that point.
- You have to have your application ready for submission early and cannot take advantage of an additional semester of grades and activities
- Applying early means that you may be applying with a stronger applicant pool
- You are unable to compare admissions offers
Early Decision 2 (ED2):
The ED2 application deadline is usually mid-January and you will receive a decision in early February. Like ED, you can only apply to one ED2 school and your acceptance is binding. As in ED1, you are expected to attend the university and withdraw any other applications submitted elsewhere.
Pros:
- You can take advantage of an additional semester of grades and activities
- Applying early means that you are applying with a smaller applicant pool
- You have a significant advantage in regards to a higher acceptance rate for qualified applicants
Cons:
- Binding (obligated to enrol)
- Applying early means that you may be applying with a stronger applicant pool
- You are unable to compare admissions offers
ED1 and ED2 are great options if you are sure that you want to attend a specific university however you must know that this is your DREAM university and that you will forego all other applications and financial packages if you are accepted. If this is not you, then one of the following early application plans may be more appropriate.
Early Action (EA)
The EA application deadline usually falls in November and you will be given a decision in January or February. You can apply to as many schools as you like under any application plan and if you are accepted at your EA university, like those accepted in RD, you are not obliged to attend.
Pros:
- Non-binding (no obligation to enrol)
- You receive decisions often by the end of December, therefore, you may not have to complete additional applications with later deadlines.
- You can apply to multiple universities and make a decision on where to attend later.
- Your application may be deferred to the regular decision cycle if not accepted early.
- You have the opportunity to apply to and compare financial aid packages from other schools.
Cons:
- Does not offer the same increased admission odds as ED plans.
- You have to have your application ready for submission early
- You are unable to take advantage of an additional semester of grades and activities
Restrictive Early Action (REA):
REA is a blend of ED and EA requiring you to submit your application early. You will receive your admissions decision sometime in December and while you are not expected to attend the university, you are restricted from applying early, especially ED, to other schools.
Pros:
- Non-binding (no obligation to enrol)
- Applying early means that you are applying with a smaller applicant pool
- You will have an admissions decision earlier than those who apply in the regular decision round giving you time to apply elsewhere if unsuccessful.
- If you are accepted, it cuts down on additional admission stress.
- You are able to compare admissions offers
Cons:
- Have to have your application ready for submission early and cannot take advantage of an additional semester of grades and activities
- Applying early means that you may be applying with a stronger applicant pool
- You are unable to apply ED to other universities
Rolling Admissions:
If you apply to a school with Rolling Admission you can submit your application any time within the application period and you will most likely receive a decision within just a few weeks. Like RD, you are not obligated to attend the university, and you can apply elsewhere with no restrictions.
Pros:
- Non-binding (no obligation to enrol)
- Decisions are made on a first-come, first-served basis
- Often a quick turnaround time for admissions decisions
- There are no deadlines to follow so you can apply when you are ready.
Cons:
- Can potentially lock you into making a decision earlier than necessary
- Can be highly competitive at certain times of the year and can be significantly harder the longer you wait to apply.
Is an early plan right for you?
You should choose an EA, REA or ED application plan only if you have:
- Thoroughly researched the universities on your list and you are confident that they meet all your requirements, including finances.
- Identified a specific university that will meet your goals.
- Prepared thoroughly across Grades 9-11 with your test scores and GPA matching those required for the universities on your list.
Note: With the added advantage of the increased admissions odds that ED can bring comes the conundrum of whether to play that advantage on the university that you are most likely to get into or that dream university that you would be lucky to gain acceptance.
Final Thoughts
If you start your university admissions journey early you will have the advantage of being able to use early admissions plans when you apply to universities and are competing with others vying for the cherished university acceptance.
