When Should My Child Apply to College? What’s the Different Between Early Decision and Early Action?
Top Three Takeaways
- Have your child ask for letters of recommendation in the spring of junior year.
- Parents like to have their kids apply early to get it out of the way, but anytime before November 1 is good.
- Know the differences between Early Decision which is binding and Early Action, which is not binding.
Tips from the Pros
There is no need to apply as soon as applications open. However, it is always a good idea to apply by November 1 if possible. This leaves the option of applying Early Action or Early Decision. Plus, applications are finished and out of the way, allowing students to enjoy their senior year.
From Mary Beth Stephens, MBS College Coaching, LLC: College applications open during the summer, as early as July. The Common Application, which is used by hundreds of colleges in the US and abroad, opens August 1. Some colleges open their applications in mid or late July.
There are several application deadlines:
- Early Action, which is basically the student begging the college to read their application early and let them know the admissions decision. It doesn’t require the student to do anything else if they are admitted until May 1.
- Early Decision is a ‘binding contract’ between the student and the school. If the college admits the student, the student has said they absolutely will attend. ED deadlines are often around November 1. Only if a financial aid package is not enough is a student supposed to request release from the Early Decision “contract.” Many colleges fill large percentages of their incoming first year class using ED since those students are guaranteed attendees. Admissions decisions from both EA and ED are often sent out near Christmas.
- Regular Decision, usually near January 1 is when the bulk of applications arrive on college campuses. Colleges will then begin reading the applications, and send out their decisions by April 1.
- Rolling admissions is how some colleges (for example Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO and Bradley University in Peoria) review applications. As applications come in, they are reviewed and an admissions decisions is usually sent out within a few weeks.
- May 1 is a national deadline. Students must put a deposit down at their chosen school by this date to indicate they will be attending that school in the fall. Technically if they do not put down a deposit, a school can withdraw the student’s acceptance.
Tips from Moms
From Julie Kaiser: The summer before senior year.
From Angela Try: My daughter spent the summer before her senior year writing many, many, many essays so they were ready to go when the colleges and coalition app opened up. She asked for recommendation letters the spring of her junior year – so teachers had them ready the fall of her senior year.
- DON”T WAIT to ask for rec letters until your senior year – teachers are bombarded – and may not get to yours before the early application deadline.
- FUN FACT: My husband loved her essays so much. We made a book for him as a Christmas gift – that contained each essay – along with photos from our college visits.
From Denise Beauman: As soon as the schools my daughter was interested in opened their application processes.
From Lisa Whelpley: My son applied to almost every school when they opened up their application process, but a couple had extra essays on the Common App, and those he took longer to complete. He asked for letters of recommendation from teachers in May, then followed up with them in August, providing them with a “brag sheet” so they were sure to have a full picture of his activities and interests.
