While certainly exciting, senior year is an extremely busy time for high school students, especially those planning on continuing their education in college. Their fall quarters can feel like a whirlwind, with applications, supplemental essays, and letters of recommendation all needing to be submitted to meet certain deadlines. This sentiment is particularly prevalent for those planning on applying to their target schools early. Nearly 450 colleges offer one or both of the early admissions options: Early Decision and Early Action, according to The College Board. Here is all that you need to know about the two rounds, and why many West Morris Central students chose to get a head start on their applications.
Early Decision:
Early Decision is a binding commitment to only one university, meaning that those who apply in this round must attend said college upon acceptance. Students are permitted to apply to only one school Early Decision, so it is highly recommended for students who have a clear top choice. WMC’s Director of School Counseling Services Mr. Ferreri is also supportive of this option for decisive seniors, stating that it is a great opportunity for “those who are 100% certain of where they want to go and can financially afford it.”
While awaiting the release of an Early Decision admission, students are able to apply to other universities through Early Action, which is not a binding commitment. However, any offers of admission must be declined and all other applications withdrawn if an applicant receives an Early Decision acceptance.
Early Action:
Early Action is extremely similar to Early Decision, but excludes the binding agreement. However unlike Early Decision, students are not required to commit to a university or place a deposit before May 1st.
Why Apply Early?
Universities frequently show high acceptance rates during their early admissions rounds, especially Early Decision. “Statistically speaking, and you can pick your level of college, everything shows that your chances of acceptance improve if you apply Early Decision or Early Action,” explains Ferreri. “If you are applying to school and you have the academic profile that they have typically accepted, then I definitely recommend applying early.” Many colleges also give students who were accepted early priority status in the housing and roommate selection processes.
Additionally, many seniors actually find early admissions to alleviate their college-induced anxiety, as they would rather submit to their chosen schools as soon as possible. “I’m really glad that I applied almost exclusively Early Action,” says senior Quinn Commerford. “It’s really relieving to have finished nearly all of my applications before November.”
With the end of the early admissions season upon us and decision release dates just around the corner, The Paw wishes the Class of 2025 the best of luck in their future endeavors!
