Application deadlines are critical in college admissions. Missing a deadline often means you have lost your chance to apply at all. Remember that the Counseling Center has its own deadlines you must meet as well, for Counselor Evaluations or Secondary School Reports that have to be sent in separately with the transcript by the application deadline. Ms. Alamilla asks that students give her requests for letters of recommendation and the necessary forms (the Report form from the school and the JMCHS Senior Survey Form) at least three weeks in advance of the deadline. The Counseling Center is closed when school is not in session so extra time must be factored in around holidays and breaks. In other words, DO NOT request a letter of recommendation due January 1^st on the day we get out for Christmas break!

The use of multiple admission plans by colleges and universities often results in confusion and concern among students, parents, and high school counselors. In an effort to help reduce this confusion, the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) has developed definitions of admission decision options that may be helpful.

Early Decision (ED)

This is the application process in which students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll. Students must not apply to any other schools Early Decision and must withdraw all other applications as soon as they have been admitted, and must send in their nonrefundable deposit within three weeks of being admitted. Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment. Talk this option over carefully with your parents and counselor if you are planning to consider applying Early Decision. Many ED applications are due as early as November.

Early Action (EA)

This is the application process in which students make application to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date. Students who are admitted under Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution’s offer of admission or to submit a deposit until the regular reply date (May 1), although they can do so as soon as they make their final choice. This allows students to compare financial aid packages if they apply to more than one college or university.

Single Choice Early Action (SCEA)

Some ultra selective colleges, such as Harvard and Stanford, have given up their Early Decision plans because of the controversy surrounding the program and its disadvantages for students (see below). They now have a Single-Choice Early Action plan that is a non-binding early admission option. Students apply early and learn of their admission decision in December and can still take until May 1 to decide whether they will attend that institution. However, students cannot apply to any other schools’ early application programs. They can still apply to other schools under a regular admission timeframe, but they still have to be thoughtful and intentional about which one school they want to apply to early. This program lets the college know that the student is seriously interested in them, and lets the student compare financial aid packages without having to commit to one school in early January.

Regular Admission

This is the application process in which a student submits an application to an institution by a specified date and receives a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time, but no later than April 15. If you are applying for financial aid, follow the aid application deadlines set by the school, as these may be scheduled before the regular decision application deadline. Some colleges or universities may have a regular decision but also a priority deadline, by which they recommend students apply (e.g., the University of Utah).

Rolling Admission

This is a term used to describe the application process in which an institution reviews applications as they are completed and gives admission decisions to students as soon as they are made. Under rolling admission if you are a strong candidate for a college and have met admission requirements, there is no reason not to send in your application early. Often applying as early as possible increases your chances of admission and eligibility for particular programs. If you’re applying for financial aid, follow the aid application deadlines set by the school, as these may fall before you plan to apply to the school under rolling admission.

Wait List

This is an admission decision option utilized by institutions to protect against shortfalls in enrollment. Wait lists are sometimes made necessary because of the uncertainty of the admission process, since students submit applications for admission to multiple institutions and may receive several offers of admission. By placing a student on the wait list, an institution does not initially offer or deny admission, but extends the possibility of admission in the future, before the institution’s admission cycle is over. Please refer to the Statement of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities at the front of this Guide for the rights you’re assured if placed on a waiting list. Let Ms. Alamilla know if you are placed on a wait list so she can advise you about the next step.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Early Application Programs

The advantage to colleges with early application options is that they often get a strong pool of early applicants who either commit to attend or indicate a very strong interest in attending their school. In fact, some colleges are taking fairly large percentages of their freshman classes through their early programs. Students who apply under an early option sometimes have a better chance of admission as part of a smaller (albeit more competitive) early applicant pool. Being accepted early can also alleviate the stress of the college application process much earlier in the school year.

Disadvantages to students include having to complete campus visits, research, and applications early in the school year, and having to be ready to commit to one school through Early Decision. Early Decision is not for students who are unsure about how they will finance college (you will not be able to apply to other colleges and then compare financial aid packages), or who are still not sure that this one college is the best fit for him/her, or who had a weak junior year and may need a strong senior year to help their application.