Deadlines for applications vary all over the map and you need to read each school’s materials carefully.

Regular Decision deadlines range from November 30th (for UC) to late spring. The University of Washington deadline is January 15th for admission to the regular program, but December 1st is the “priority” deadline to apply for the Honors Program and UW scholarships. A general rule is that the more selective the school or program, the earlier the deadline, so be aware!

April is the month when most colleges send out their admission decisions, but there are exceptions. Some colleges have Rolling Admission, in which applications are evaluated as they arrive and decisions mailed out as they are made. Some colleges notify very attractive candidates early in the hope of persuading them to attend. Rolling Admission colleges tend to be less selective, so it's a good idea to apply early to one of these as a safety option; once you get that first acceptance you'll be able to breathe easier!

Many colleges offer a Priority Application Deadline, usually a month or so earlier than the Regular Admission deadline. Priority applications will be read and reviewed early, and you will be notified of the decision early as well.

Many colleges and universities also offer early admission options. Students apply as early as November 1st, and receive a decision early, usually by mid-December.

If you apply Early Decision, you must agree to attend the college if you are admitted. Some schools have two Early Decision options, one in November and one near the Regular Decision deadline. Students applying early may be accepted, denied, or deferred (i.e., thrown back into the regular applicant pool). Early Decision can appear to give students an advantage in admissions (some colleges accept a higher percentage of early applicants than they do regular applicants), but this may be misleading.  Early applicants tend to be more organized, motivated, and accomplished than students applying later. In the early pool of applicants, therefore, your chances of standing out are diminished.

Recently some schools (mostly smaller liberal arts colleges) have added an Early Decision II option.  The application is due at the regular time, but you commit to going if admitted. 

Early Action is different, in that you hear from the college early, but you are not obligated to attend. Because of this, Early Action may not confer as much of an advantage as Early Decision. Some schools have a Single-Choice Early Action option. You can apply early and get a non-binding acceptance, but you can only do this for one school.

Many schools select a large percentage of their freshman class early, but a binding decision option is advised only when you are certain you would like to attend a particular school and you fit the profile of enrolled freshmen. A self-confident student who applies through the normal process gains months of maturation, broader options, and the ego boost of several acceptances.

Click for a closer look at the Early Application Pros and Cons.

January Entry or JanStart. A few colleges and universities also offer January admission options. Students may have a better chance of being admitted if they are willing to wait a term before matriculating. Colby and Middlebury Colleges are among those offering January admission, but more colleges are doing this than ever before.

Late Decision. What can you do if the unthinkable happens in April and you are not accepted anywhere? Check the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) website to see if they have posted a list of colleges still looking for matriculants!  Not surprisingly, you won't find highly selective schools on the list, but you might be surprised by the number of quality state schools and smaller private colleges with space available.  

Deferred Admission.  Some colleges allow students to defer admission for one year, particularly if they plan to spend it productively or in service to the community.  This post-high-school year is sometimes called a Gap Year.  Click for more information on Gap Year Options.

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