What does regular admission mean?

Regular admissions are one of the most common application options, as you can apply to as many schools as you want under this option. Once the college has received all applications, they are reviewed and all applicants are notified at the same time, during the spring of senior year.

What is the difference between early admission and regular?

Early Action (EA) is a college application process offering applicants the option to apply ahead of the deadline for Regular Decision applicants. You need to apply earlier, but typically it's an opportunity to receive an admission decision sooner, without any commitment to attend the school if you're accepted.

What is regular decision admission?

Apply Regular Decision means you are not applying in the early round, and you will receive your admission decision in the spring — usually around late-March into early-April.

What is the difference between regular and rolling admission?

Rolling admission means colleges review applications as they're sent in; there is no hard deadline by which you need to submit your application. In contrast, schools with a regular decision policy require you to submit your application by a certain deadline -- usually in late December or January.

How long does regular admissions take?

The Basics

The date by which you apply will vary by your application plan. If you apply under an earlier plan, you'll probably get your decision earlier, too. But in general, it usually takes admissions offices 1-2 months to return your admissions decision.

How College Admissions Works - Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Admissions & all the rest

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 do you know if I got accepted into college?

Colleges that accept you will usually notify you of your acceptance between mid-March and mid-April, either through an email or as an update on your college application portal.

Can you accept admission to multiple colleges?

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.

Is regular decision binding?

Regular Decision - maybe the most recognized decision plan - is a non-binding entrance plan, meaning that if you are admitted to a school through Regular Decision, you are not committed to attending.

Is early admission a good idea?

Applying early lets your favorite school (or schools) know that you are serious about attending. Schools track how many applicants accept their offers of admission and release those numbers to the public. A school looks good when a high percentage of accepted applicants chose to attend.

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.

Is it OK to only apply regular decision?

There's nothing wrong with submitting a Regular Decision application. In fact, this is the route that 99% of applicants take. It's simple: Get your application in by the regular application deadline, and it will be considered by the college or university.

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.

What are the benefits of regular decision?

Pros of Regular Decision

It's non-binding. You have more time to research schools and complete applications. You can take last-minute ACT or SAT scores and include them with your application.

Can you apply early and regular?

Early Decision (ED) is a binding process. You may only apply to one college Early Decision, although you can still apply later to other schools Regular Decision. If the Early Decision school accepts you, you must attend that school and withdraw all other applications– often before knowing the final financial aid offer.

What is the regular decision deadline?

The majority of students apply to school regular decision. These are the college application deadlines you might have heard all about! Regular decision deadlines usually fall in the beginning of January (so much for a relaxing winter break). The most common RD deadline is January 1.

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 happens if you apply early decision and don't go?

Early decision colleges may reach out to other schools to let them know you broke your agreement, which can reflect poorly on your applications. You'll also lose any deposit money you put down.

Can you get out of early decision if you can't afford it?

Fortunately, students can usually turn down an ED offer if the financial aid is insufficient. “If the net cost of the college is completely unaffordable, you can ask the admissions committee to release you,” said Shirag Shemmassian, founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting.

Can you back out of college after accepting admission?

Can you reject a college after accepting? Certainly! From the day you accept your acceptance offer to the day of your graduation, you can choose to no longer attend the university you're currently at. This is even true for those who accept an early decision acceptance offer, which are usually binding.

Can you commit to 2 colleges at once?

In the higher education world, this is known as double depositing. 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.

What happens if you accept admission to a college and change your mind?

You generally will not receive your deposit back. If you prefer to attend another school, and that school's acceptance deadline has not yet passed, you can then pay the deposit and commit to that school instead.

Can you ask a college why you didn't get accepted?

You can ask, but it would be exceedingly rare to get any kind of substantive answer. So many factors go into admissions decisions. It is not just you, but the pool of candidates that are taken into consideration. You can ask, but they won't answer — at least not with a specific reason.

How to increase your chances of getting accepted into college?

Do colleges look at your grades after your accepted?

Colleges consider your fall and final semester grades even if you've already received admission; that's how much your final year grades matter.