Research College Early Admissions Programs

College applicants who feel anxious about the admissions process often apply to college early so they can discover, as soon as possible, whether their first-choice college will accept them.

“You may be tempted to quickly cobble together an application because, according to the statistics, early applicants have a higher acceptance rate,” U.S. News contributor Brian Witte wrote in a 2016 blog post. “Remember, though, that many early applicants are highly qualified and have prepared well in advance.”

Here are 10 things experts say college hopefuls need to know about early college admissions programs.

1. Early admissions programs vary.

Experts say it’s important to note the differences between various early admissions programs.

“The key distinction between early action and early decision programs is that early action programs are non-binding, while early decision programs are legally binding,” Colleen Ganjian, an admissions consultant and founder of the DC College Counseling company, said via email. “In other words, if a student is accepted to a school through an early decision program, that student is bound to attend.”

Ganjian says some colleges forbid early action applicants from simultaneously applying early at other schools. “It is essential for students to understand the specific nuances involved in the programs under consideration, without relying on the name of the application program itself,” she said.

2. Don’t apply early unless you’re ready.

Experts say it’s a mistake to apply early if you believe your upcoming grades or an anticipated appointment to a leadership position will significantly improve your application.

Likewise, experts say, you might want to wait until the regular admissions cycle if you hope to boost your standardized test score by a substantial amount or if you are struggling to identify compelling admissions essay topics.

“Think of it this way — early decision may provide you with an admissions advantage, but so too will a strong addition to your application,” U.S. News contributor Bradford Holmes wrote in a 2015 College Admissions Playbook blog post.

3. Early applicants may have an edge.

Experts say early decision applicants who promise to attend a college if they are admitted are much more likely to be accepted than applicants who don’t make this commitment.

Participating in an early decision program can boost your odds of “getting into a given school — especially if you are on the proverbial borderline,” Holmes wrote in a 2013 blog post. “If you have a clear-cut No. 1 choice early in your senior year and want to maximize your chances of getting into that dream school, applying early can help.”

4. Submit a strong application.

Some college applicants are in such a hurry to submit their materials early that they get sloppy, experts say.

“If your application is rushed and does not reflect your true value as a student, you may ultimately damage your admissions chances,” Witte wrote in a 2016 blog post.

Experts say the quality of your application is more important than the timing of its submission. If you are obviously underqualified for a school based on your test scores and grades, experts say you will most likely be rejected, even if you apply early.

5. Applying early may reduce scholarships.

Experts say early decision programs are a risky bet for college applicants who don’t qualify for financial aid but who are eager to receive merit scholarships.

Applicants who require a significant amount of merit aid to fund their college education should be wary of early decision programs, experts say, since these programs prevent applicants from weighing scholarship offers from multiple schools. Experts caution that this limits an applicant’s ability to negotiate for a higher scholarship at his or her dream school, and it also forecloses the option to attend another school at a lower price.

6. Early action offers more flexibility.

Experts say early admission is unlikely to influence the size of a need-based financial aid award, so low-income high schoolers shouldn’t be afraid to participate in these programs.

Early action programs give applicants with financial need the flexibility to compare aid packages with the peace of mind of knowing they have a seat at a college, experts say. However, early decision programs may be problematic for applicants with financial need, experts note, since these binding programs prevent the opportunity to consider multiple need-based financial aid offers.

7. An early decision can influence morale.

Experts say that college applicants who receive an early action college acceptance letter may get a valuable confidence boost that helps them sell themselves to other schools.

However, experts warn that an early college rejection can make it difficult for students to believe in themselves enough to prepare compelling applications and excel in admissions interviews.

College admissions consultant Jodi Rosenshein Atkin says early college applicants should have applications to other schools ready to submit before they receive their early admissions decision letters, in case the news is bad.

8. Early decision requires commitment.

Experts say that if college applicants have any doubt about whether a college is a good fit, they shouldn’t apply early decision.

“It comes down to your psychological state,” Elizabeth Pleshette, director of college counseling at the Latin School of Chicago, a private high school, told U.S. News in 2014.

She said, “The kids that benefit are the ones that make easy and fast decisions and don’t regret their choices. They have the self possession to know what they want and self awareness to know whether they fit a school’s profile or not.”

9. Backing out has consequences.

Most colleges with early decision programs allow accepted students a way out of their binding commitment to the school if they can’t afford to attend, experts say, but this comes with consequences.

Students who back out of an early decision program for financial reasons may miss the regular admissions deadline at other schools, experts say, and those who realize that they have nonfinancial reasons to withdraw face difficult conversations with admissions officers. Experts warn that high school guidance counselors may also be unwilling to send additional transcripts to other colleges.

10. Early applications may lead to other benefits.

Experts say college applicants who are accepted early to a first-choice college may not feel the need to apply to safety schools, which means they would apply to fewer colleges. This allows applicants to save money on application fees and spend less time writing school-specific application essays, experts say.

Another benefit of applying early, experts say, is that it encourages students to finish their applications well before the regular admissions deadlines, which generally fall during winter break. As such, experts say they can enjoy the holiday season without worrying about this admissions task.

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10 Things To Know About College Early Admissions Programs originally appeared on usnews.com