How does preferred admission affect regular decision plans?

I'm still confused about how the preferred admission plan works in comparison to regular decision. Does choosing a preferred admission plan have any impact on regular decision timeline or chances?

Preferred admission plans are essentially a way for students to indicate a high interest in a specific program within a university. The specific features of preferred admission can vary from one institution to another, but generally, preferred admission provides the benefit of securing a spot in a specialized program—like business or nursing—from freshman year. This is opposed to being admitted to the general university first, and then needing to apply for a spot in the specialized program later in your college career.

This doesn't usually affect the regular decision timeline per se. Students still submit their regular applications by the regular decision deadline, and admission decisions are typically released in the regular decision timeline (often around March or April). The main difference is that students who apply for preferred admission are showing the admissions committee early on that they are committed to studying in a certain major or program, which the committee can consider in their decision.

Now, in terms of how it impacts your chances, there's no universally applicable answer—it can vary from school to school. For selective programs, preferred admission could be more competitive than regular admission. It's important to remember that applying for preferred admission may not guarantee admittance into your preferred program; you must still meet the program-specific admission requirements.

Like early decision or early action, showing your specific interest in a certain program could possibly enhance your standing in the eyes of admissions, especially if you have supporting credentials (such as related extracurriculars or relevant coursework). However, this is dependent on the university's policies and the level of competition among applicants. Therefore, it's always a good idea to do some research on the particularities of each college's preferred admission policy. You may also want to directly contact the admissions office if you have specific questions about your chances under a preferred admission plan.