What are the US university application deadlines for international students?

I'm international and applying to several U.S. universities. Can anyone tell me about the general application deadlines I should be aware of? Things are getting stressful and I want to stay organized.

Admissions deadlines for U.S. universities often fall into three categories: Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), and Regular Decision (RD). Do note that not every college offers all these admission plans, and the exact dates can vary by university, so it's important to check the specific dates on each college's admissions page.

1. Early Decision (ED): This is typically a binding agreement, meaning if accepted, you're committed to attending unless you have a compelling reason, like insufficient financial aid. Deadlines often tend to be around November 1st or 15th.

2. Early Action (EA): This is non-binding. You can apply to more than one college via EA and are not obligated to attend if accepted. EA deadlines also often fall around November 1st or 15th.

3. Regular Decision (RD): This is the route through which most students apply. Deadlines here most commonly fall around January 1st or 15th.

International students, you're subject to the same deadlines as U.S. students for the college application. But, there might be earlier deadlines for financial aid forms, as well as requirements for submitting English language proficiency tests (like TOEFL), so do keep an eye on those as well.

Lastly, a handful of colleges also offer a second round of ED (known as ED II) with deadlines typically around January 1st or 15th, which also serve as an option for some applicants.

I encourage you to start working on applications well in advance of these timelines. College applications require careful consideration and a fair amount of preparation, from the application form itself to essays, recommendation letters, and any required testing.

And one last tip: plan on sending your applications a few days before the actual deadline to avoid last-minute tech glitches or other unexpected issues. Good luck with your applications!