How long does regular decision take?

The average turnaround time for an admissions decision for schools with rolling admissions is four to six weeks, though in some cases students might have to wait longer. For regular decision candidates, the wait is more like eight to 12 weeks.

Does regular decision lower your chances?

Admissions data posted by some of the most selective universities in the U.S. shows that Regular Decision admission rates are usually significantly lower than those of ED and EA. For example, Boston College admitted 28% of its early applicants for the class of 2026 but only 15% of applicants during the RD round.

Is it harder to get into regular decision?

The Regular Decision pool tends to be larger as this is the general applicant pool for the upcoming year, and often the admit rate is lower in Regular Decision round compared to the Early Decision or Early Action round because of the volume of applications being considered.

How long does it take to get an acceptance letter?

Remember, you'll probably get your college acceptance letters over the course of two to three weeks. Each school will have their own date, and usually even a specific time, they are planning to send out college acceptance letters.

Do acceptance or rejection emails come first?

Most universities send acceptance and rejection notices at the same time. Others have “rolling admissions” where you can apply almost any time and they will decide within a few weeks of your application. There's a third notice that you haven't mentioned: wait listed.

College Admission Officers, What Made You Declined A Student?

Do colleges let you know if you're not accepted?

Colleges send out emails to applicants, but they usually don't contain an acceptance or nonacceptance letter. Instead, the email you receive is likely going to direct you to the college's online application portal. Today, most colleges have an online portal where students can check the status of their applications.

Why does regular decision take so long?

Sorting through thousands and thousands of applications, calculating, verifying, scoring, evaluating, ranking, discussing, and deciding takes time. Then there is the notification process, deadlines, responses, sending out additional acceptances, repeat until a class is assembled. The process invokes many partic...

Is regular decision worse than early action?

There are several advantages to applying for regular decision over early action or early decision. With regular decision, you have more time to research and compare schools, so you are more likely to find the best fit for you.

What are the cons of regular decision?

- Cons: Acceptance rates can vary between EA and RD, with some schools admitting a larger proportion of students in the earlier round. Also, the waiting period for an RD decision is longer, which can be difficult.

What are the early signs that you have been accepted into a university?

Unless the university sends you a letter or email where they say you are accepted, there are no other things. Universities can send such a letter before the official day when they announce the decisions on their admissions portal. Especially when the student is selected for honors program or some scholarship.

How many colleges should one apply to?

There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student's record and circumstances).

Why is my acceptance letter taking so long?

Processing time: Admissions offices receive a large number of applications, and it can take time to review and process them all. Missing information: If there is missing information in your application, such as transcripts or test scores, it can delay the review process.

How many colleges should I apply to regular decision?

Every year, prospective college students wonder, "How many colleges should I apply to?" As a general rule of thumb, some admissions experts recommend submitting applications to 4-12 schools.

Do colleges look at senior year grades?

Depending on when you receive your college admissions letters, the use of your senior year grades could vary. For students who are applying for Regular Decision (as opposed to early decision or on a rolling admissions basis), then colleges will surely request your grades from your first quarter of senior year.

Should I apply early or regular?

Applying early can be a good idea if you're sure about which college you want to attend. That means you've researched its programs and, if possible, visited its campus. But think twice about applying early if: You want to compare admission and financial aid offers from several colleges.

Does regular decision look at senior grades?

The important thing to know is that colleges do look at your senior year grades. So, a weaker performance in senior year than in previous grades can impact your application and college admissions decisions.

Do you get more financial aid if you apply early action?

Reduced financial aid opportunities: Students who apply under ED plans receive offers of admission and financial aid simultaneously and will not be able to compare financial aid offers from other colleges. For students who absolutely need financial aid, applying early may be a risky option.

Do colleges prefer early action?

Applying EA doesn't necessarily give you a boost in the admissions rate, but you do get the advantage of finding out earlier. Most schools will let you know between late December and February.

Do admissions officers actually read essays?

Yes, admissions officers do actually read essays, but they might have already screened candidates first in a preliminary round. Every admissions office has a different process and it's impossible to sum up the exact step-by-step process for each admission office in one blog post.

Can you get waitlisted from regular decision?

Being waitlisted generally happens only after the Regular Decision round, when your application has been considered alongside of all of your peers, but all the spots of the incoming class are full. Both outcomes will create uncertainty for you.

Can colleges see your common app before submitting?

Note that even if an applicant never applies through the Common App, the Colleges and/or Universities in which the applicant has indicated interest will still have access to the applicant's personal information as part of the applicant's pre-application data prior to the application being submitted.

Can you accept two college offers?

Double depositing means putting down a deposit, and thus accepting admission, at more than one college. Since a student can't attend multiple colleges, it is considered unethical.

Can colleges accidentally accept you?

If a college/university discovers that the admissions offer was made by mistake, they will rescind the offer. There were cases when colleges sent acceptance letters by mistake and then withdrew those acceptances.

What happens if no college accepts you?

Know that you have options: looking at other schools, enrolling in a community college, taking a gap year, or looking for a job. Whatever path you choose, there's no reason you can't transfer schools or reapply next year. Good luck, and don't give up!