With many college applications (like the Common App) open on August 1, you’re probably wondering when the best time to submit yours is. While the colleges you're applying to will list their deadlines on their website, it can be helpful to be aware of the four main types of application deadlines to understand your options. We break these deadlines down for you!

Early Decision and Early Action

Under early decision (ED) and early action (EA), you can apply to a college by an earlier deadline, usually in November of your senior year of high school, and receive a decision on your application in December or January. If applying under ED or EA, you may have a higher chance of getting accepted when you match or exceed the college’s acceptance requirements. 

Early Decision (ED)

If you are sure where you want to attend college, match or exceed the college's admissions requirements, and are confident that you have or can receive the financial support necessary to attend, applying through early decision may be right for you. It’s important to note that unlike the other college application deadlines, ED is binding. This means that if you are accepted to a school through ED, you must withdraw all other applications you've already submitted through regular decision and agree to attend that school (unless your financial aid award is insufficient). Through ED, your nonrefundable enrollment deposit must also be sent relatively soon after you get accepted, usually in January. Specific deadlines for enrollment deposits will vary by school. 

Early Action (EA)

Applying through early action is an alternative to early decision if you want to hear back from your top schools sooner, but still want to wait for admissions decisions from other colleges you applied to under different deadlines. Under EA:

• Your application can be accepted, denied, or in some cases, deferred–meaning your application will be reviewed and considered on the same timeline as regular admissions. This means you'd receive an admissions decision later, around March or April.
• You can submit other college applications under regular admission and early action. However, a few schools have restrictive or single-choice EA, meaning that you are unable to apply to private schools through under their EA deadlines. (You are allowed to apply to public universities through EA.) Be sure to do your research before applying. 
• Applications are non-binding, so you can consider other acceptance offers or decline the school’s admissions offer for any reason.
• You can wait to hear from other colleges you applied to and compare your financial aid award offers to make the best college decision for you. 

The Limitations of Early Decision and Early Action

While ED and EA have their benefits, make sure you consider the limitations of applying under these programs:

• Under ED and EA, your college application timeline will be pushed earlier, typically by a few months. For example, if you are taking the SAT or ACT, you will need to register for an earlier test date (by October) for test scores to be submitted on time. You will also need to have your personal essays, course grades, recommendation letters, and other application materials ready to submit before the early deadline.
• You typically have to commit to one college if applying under ED or single-choice/restrictive EA, which can feel like a lot of pressure to make the right choice of school. Make sure you talk to a trusted educator or adult to go over all your options before deciding to apply under ED or single-choice/restrictive EA.
• Your financial aid options may be limited. If you are accepted to a school through ED, you will likely not have a chance to compare your financial aid award letter with those of any other schools.

Regular Decision

A majority of students apply to college under regular decision deadlines, which are usually in January or February of your senior year. Colleges send their decisions in March or April, and you will have until May 1 to make a decision. Regular decision has the widest application window, which gives you more time to gather your application materials.

Rolling Admission

Some colleges have rolling admissions, meaning that they accept and review applications as they are received until all spots in a given year are filled. This means that you can apply to college later in the school year and still have a chance of getting accepted! Different colleges will have different time frames of when you can submit your application and how long it will take to hear back from them. Check in with each school you're interested in applying to for specific dates and deadlines. Colleges with rolling admissions may also be a great option for students to make decisions about enrollment based on aid. 

After You Submit Your Application

No matter where or when you submit your college applications, be sure to check your email and mailbox regularly since the majority of colleges will send their decisions in one of these ways. They may also reach out if your application is incomplete or even request additional information, such as a letter of recommendation or a resume, to get to know you better as they are reviewing your application. If you receive any requests like this, it’s important to respond ASAP. We recommend checking both your mail and email once a day to ensure you don't miss anything important.

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