When it comes to college applications, the type of admission directly shapes your essay’s timeline. You can go to your school counselor and ask them about all the different kinds, but the fastest way is to read our guide. Let’s find out what sorts of college admissions you may encounter.
Early Decision (ED) is a mandatory college applications option. Early Decision deadlines are usually November 1 or November 15. There are specific pros and cons of Early Decision. Students choose this type of college applications when they want to demonstrate a strong interest in school. One of the major advantages of Early Decision is a high acceptance rate. Moreover, early notification allows students to complete their college applications sooner.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to this type of college admissions. The binding nature limits flexibility—you cannot compare financial aid offers from other schools before committing. Even if you pass the college applications process successfully at other institutions, you still have to attend your Early Decision school. ED college admissions will be appropriate for applicants who are confident in their single best-fit school.
For a more detailed Regular Decision meaning, you can go to a school counselor. What really matters is that students are not obligated to attend if accepted. What is a Regular Decision deadline? It falls between January 1 and January 15. You will have time to prepare for the application process, attend college fairs, and write a good personal statement. By the way, if you are not sure about the quality of your paper, a college essay proofreader can help you.
If students need more time to work on their college applications, get letters of recommendation, or do a thorough college search, then RD is a good option for them. During the community college admissions process, students can apply to multiple schools. Importantly, you can apply Regular Decision after an Early Action application.
However, most students also know the cons of RD. Acceptance rates are low at certain colleges. The later rolling admissions deadlines may lead to a more compressed schedule between junior and senior year. A big difference between Regular Decision and Early Action is that the former gives more time to prepare but may involve a more competitive applicant pool.
Early Action definition: It is a college application option that allows most students to apply early and receive an early admission decision, typically by December or January. Unlike ED, EA is non-binding. If you are accepted, you are not required to attend the school and can compare offers from many colleges.
The typical Early Action timeline is around November 1 or November 15. Some higher education institutions extend them to December 1. Nevertheless, during the college application process, high school students need to write essays, get letters of recommendation, and obtain transcripts early.
What are the pros and cons of Early Action? Eligible students enjoy earlier notification and the ability to demonstrate a strong interest in a school. It also allows more time to prepare financial aid applications. However, EA has potential downsides. Highly competitive schools with rolling admissions may have lower acceptance rates for EA compared to ED. Overall, EA is ideal for high school students who know their top-choice schools.
Let’s consider different college application deadlines.
If you are applying through ED, your essay timeline should begin between junior and senior year. There are two Early Decision deadlines. The first one falls on November 1, and the second Early Decision deadline is on November 15. The summer before senior year of high school is perfect for creating a first draft. Visit each college board website to see what papers they want to see to write your first draft. In September, it is better to make revisions. In October, make the final edits. Our college essay reviewer can help you with that.
The Early Action timeline is similar to the Early Decision deadlines, but high school students have a little more flexibility. However, you need to visit the college board website for every school in advance to find out their essay and enrollment deposit requirements. Does Early Action increase chances of successful admission if you have a good paper? Yes, it does. Start in the summer between junior year and senior year of high school by writing a first draft. In this way, you will refine your applications early. By October, you should have an essay ready.
The Regular Decision college application timeline is longer than what ED and EA offer, but high school students don’t have to wait too long. An application deadline typically falls around January 1–15 — that’s why a smart strategy is to begin brainstorming and outlining your essay by September or October. RD allows you to apply to multiple colleges — that’s why you need to account for additional supplemental essays. When you consider EA vs. RD, keep in mind that the second gives you more time to prepare, but it is still better to start working on essays in the summer after junior year of high school.
Is it better to submit college application early? Of course. If you start to work on your essays in the summer after junior year, you will not be in a rush and will end up with an authentic personal statement. An early start helps students apply successfully.
Let’s look at what college applications should have so that admissions offices notice you.
Strong recommendation letters are important for many colleges. Keep in mind that your teacher or admissions counselor could be busy, so you should ensure you give them enough time. When considering Early Action vs. Early Decision, keep in mind that good recommendations are more important for the latter. In both cases, you need to request letters by the end of junior year or at the very start of senior year. This guarantees you’ll be able to apply early.
If you plan to submit Advanced Placement or standardized test scores, you need to prepare beforehand. The final acceptable dates for submitting standardized test scores are usually in October. You need to start your preparation and take the SAT subject tests in the summer before senior year. Make sure to send your scores directly to schools before the application deadline.
You should work on your financial documents hand-in-hand with your application deadline. Many institutions, such as UC schools, require applicants to submit their FAFSA or CSS Profile by early deadlines. You should submit your financial aid forms on time. Most colleges offer information on when applicants need to submit requests for a fee waiver.
You need to have a backup plan if you want to meet college application deadlines. If you receive a rejection from your ED, start the Regular Decision application process quickly. It’s also important to understand the difference between Early Action and Early Decision when you make your plan. Rejection with ED comes with a binding agreement, which means the path closes for you. EA gives you the flexibility to still apply broadly. Start preparing your Regular Decision essays and application materials even while waiting for your early results. And don’t forget to grade your college essay with the help of our tool to ensure it is strong enough.
If you avoid the following pitfalls, you will have better chances of getting a positive admission decision.
Rushing essays for ED without tailoring them. ED deadlines arrive in early November — that’s why many students rush through their essays over the summer or in early fall. The result is often a generic essay that doesn’t fit the Common App. If you have time, it is better to take rigorous courses that will teach you how to write outstanding essays.
Procrastinating on RD and missing quality checks. Students delay their work on the Common App because RD deadlines seem far away. But if you wait too long, in the end, you may not have enough time for supplemental essays, for example.
Forgetting about financial aid deadlines. Many families assume aid applications come later, but deadlines for FAFSA, CSS Profile, and fee waiver often align with ED or EA dates. If you miss this application deadline for your financial aid package, you may lose funding opportunities.
Not preparing a Plan B. Relying solely on ED or EA without backup applications is risky. Does Early Action give you an advantage by providing early admission decisions, rejections, or deferrals? Yes, it does. However, if you have a Common App essay for Regular Decision schools, you will feel more secure.
Meeting common college application deadlines is always stressful. A college essay writer, as well as editing services, will help you with your supplemental essays to make them look perfect. You will avoid common mistakes in all types of college decisions. You can come to us during your school year if you face some difficult assignments and get more free time for family, extracurricular activities, or just relaxation.
ED can boost your chances but requires full commitment. EA offers early results without binding you to one school, though Early Action is more competitive at some institutions due to the high volume of strong applicants applying early. RD provides the most time but also brings the most competition. Remember: The earlier you start, the stronger your application will be.
When applying Early Decision, you should start writing your college essay in the summer before your senior year. Aim to have your essay fully polished by October, well ahead of typical ED deadlines in early to mid-November.
Yes, Early Decision is more competitive, and you need to submit stronger, more polished essays than Regular Decision (RD) applicants. Because ED is binding and the applicant pool is often highly competitive, admissions officers pay close attention to every aspect of the application, including the essay.
Yes, you can reuse your Early Decision (ED) essay for Regular Decision (RD) if you aren’t accepted, but with some important considerations. ED essays are usually tailored to a specific school, so for RD applications to other schools, you’ll likely need to revise and customize your essay to highlight why you’re a good fit for each new school. Even if the topic stays the same, updating details, adding school-specific reasons, and polishing language will make your essay stronger. Similarly, if you get rejected from Early Action you can apply Regular Decision, but you may need to adjust your essay to better fit the new schools.
No, ED is not worth it if it is not your dream school. ED is a form of early admission to college that is binding. You will have to attend it. You should understand the difference between EA and ED in this case. Early Action (EA) allows you to apply early and not attend a particular school if you don’t want to.
You will get an extra two to three months to prepare your application. Also, remember that Early Action is better than Regular decision because it provides earlier notification and the chance to show interest.
