What's the Deal with Regular Decision vs Rolling Admission?

Can someone explain the difference between regular decision and rolling admission when applying to colleges? I'm trying to figure out which option might be better for me based on my current application timeline.

Sure, let's go over each one first and then delve into how they might affect your application process. Regular decision is a traditional application process where colleges set a specific deadline, usually around January 1st or January 15th, and will not review any application until that deadline has passed. After the deadline, admissions officers begin reviewing all submitted applications and release decisions typically in late March or early April.

Rolling admission, on the other hand, is a process where schools review applications as they arrive and make decisions on an ongoing basis. There's usually a larger window of time to apply, sometimes extending well into the spring. However, schools will stop accepting applications once all spots are filled.

Choosing between these two depends on your situation and readiness. If you're ready to submit your applications early in the academic year, rolling admission might be beneficial as you can potentially receive an admission decision sooner. Another advantage is that spots aren't all taken up by Early Decision or Early Action applicants, as can be the case with Regular Decision.

Yet, if you want more time to incorporate senior-year accomplishments, improve your grades, or work on your essays, regular decision may be more beneficial. Regular decision also provides the advantage of time to compare all of your acceptances and financial aid packages at once, as you'll receive the decisions around the same time.

Remember each university will have its own set of rules and deadlines for both regular and rolling admissions, so always be sure to check the specific details of every institution you're interested in applying to.