Decision Plans

Early Action (Non-Binding)
Offered by a few colleges. The student applies by an early deadline, typically November 1st, Nov. 15th, or Dec. 1st. Here, the student's application rests primarily on the record achieved through her junior year. The student is notified of decision by mid-December, but is not bound to accept. The student may apply elsewhere. She does not have to notify the college of her decision until the common reply date of May 1st.

Single Early Action (Non-Binding)
Here, the student may not apply elsewhere; however, her offer of admission is not binding.

Early Decision (Binding)
For this option, the student must have a very solid understanding and intense dedication to the college by which she is applying early decision. Like early action, the student applies by an early deadline; however, she must realize that if she receives an offer of admission, she is obligated to accept and to pay the deposit, usually within two weeks. The student signs an agreement to this effect on the Early Decision application; the counselor signs as well.
ADVANTAGE: The College gives you a closer look in a much smaller applicant pool. The student is sending a message of commitment to that college. If the student is deferred, she will be looked at again in the spring in the regular pool. Additional essays, letters of recommendation, etc. are suggested. In the meantime, of course, the student should file applications at other schools.
What percentage of a college class comes from Early Decision applicants? The figure varies considerably from about 15% to over one-third.
DISADVANTAGE: The College is not required to offer financial aid information at the time of a student's acceptance.

Rolling Admission
This plan tends to be used by big institutions, usually state universities, as well as some private universities. The institution reads, processes, and notifies students on a rolling basis as applications come in. Then, when the desired number of offers of admission has been extended – usually three or four times the desired class size – admission closes. If the student is applying to a school that uses Rolling Admission, it is in her best interest to apply as EARLY as possible.
LSU is an example of a Rolling Admission institution.

Regular Plan
Deadlines for application filing vary: January 1st, January 15th, February 15th, and March 1st are the most common. The student is notified by April 15th. Under this plan, the student must respond by May 1st.