What's the difference between regular decision and rolling admission?

I'm applying to colleges and trying to decide whether to go with regular decision or rolling admission. What are the pros and cons of each? I'm not sure which works better if I want to hear back sooner.

When it comes to choosing between regular decision and rolling admission, it's important to consider a number of factors, primarily the timing of the application review, the deadline flexibility, and the turnaround time for a decision.

Regular decision typically has a hard deadline, often in January. After that date, all applications are reviewed together, a process that usually takes a few months. Admissions decisions collectively go out, typically in March or April. The advantage of regular decision is that you have additional time to strengthen your application, complete any semester exams for the first half of the senior year, or garner more extracurricular experiences before submission. However, if your application is not competitive, you may fall into the larger pool and not stand out.

On the other hand, rolling admission usually opens up in the early fall and remains open until all spots are filled. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, usually in the order in which they were received. This means that the sooner you submit your application, the sooner you’ll hear back. Typically, notification happens within a few weeks of submission. A major advantage to rolling admission is the opportunity to secure a spot early, especially in institutions that fill their seats quickly. However, you may feel pressured to submit your application early to secure your spot, even if you needed more time to work on it.

In terms of hearing back sooner, rolling admission would be the better choice. However, you would also need to be prepared to submit your application earlier than the regular decision deadline.

Given these differences, your decision between applying via regular decision and rolling admissions should be based on what feels best for your timeline, peace of mind, and readiness of your application. Remember, do not rush your application just to submit early; a well-prepared application is always worth the wait.