What is Regular Decision When Applying to College?

I'm planning my college applications and noticed there's something called 'regular decision.' What exactly does this mean for my application process and timelines? Any insights would be super helpful!

Regular Decision is one of the several application plans that colleges and universities offer. It has a later deadline than other plans like Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED). Regular Decision deadlines typically fall in early January, though the precise date can vary by school.

In the Regular Decision process, students usually submit their applications by the designated deadline in January and receive their admissions decisions in the spring, often by April 1. Unlike Early Decision, Regular Decision is non-binding, meaning that if a student is accepted to a school through Regular Decision, they are not obligated to attend that school. They have until May 1 (known as National College Decision Day) to consider their options, compare financial aid offers, and make a final decision.

In terms of the timeline, applying Regular Decision gives you more time to work on your applications than Early Decision or Early Action. This additional time can be beneficial if you want to wait for first semester senior grades to be posted, or if you’re taking the SAT or ACT in the fall of your senior year. However, using Regular Decision also means that you'll have to wait longer to receive your admissions decisions.

Generally speaking, you should apply Regular Decision to most of the colleges on your list, and only apply Early Decision or Early Action to your top-choice school(s). Keep in mind deadlines, your application's readiness, and of course, where you feel you'd love to study. It would be helpful to keep a calendar of key dates and requirements for each of the institutions you are interested in. Good luck!