Should I choose regular decision or rolling admission?

I'm super confused about whether I should apply regular decision or take the rolling admission route for my college apps. What are the pros and cons of each, and how do I decide which one is better for me?

There are several factors to consider when deciding between the regular decision and rolling admissions process. Understanding the differences and weighing the pros and cons can greatly assist in making the right selection for you.

Regular Decision:

Regular decision deadlines typically fall around January 1st of the student's senior year, with decisions released around March or April. The main advantage of regular decision is that you get more time to enhance your application - second semester grades, more time for essay editing, and adding any additional extracurriculars or awards that you may acquire.

However, the regular decision process can be a bit riskier compared to rolling admissions because all decisions (accept, deny, or waitlist) are released at once. This means you’re competing against the full pool of applicants, making the admissions more competitive.

Rolling Admissions:

Rolling admissions, on the other hand, review applications as they come in and continue to admit students until all spots are filled. This can work in your favor if you apply early in the cycle, as there are more available seats. This also means you can potentially hear back much quicker, easing anxiety and giving you smaller decisions windows for planning purposes.

The consideration you need to address here is timing. The later you apply, the fewer spots there will be available. This may reduce your chances of admission if you wait too long. So if you're leaning towards schools with rolling admissions, it's in your interest to apply as early as possible.

In the end, your choice should depend on your preparedness and the specific policies of the colleges you're interested in. If you've polished your application and feel confident about it earlier on, rolling admissions could be a good route. If you prefer to take some extra time to perfect your application or need senior year grades for a boost, then regular decision could be better. Remember, there's no definitive 'better' between the two - it's all about what works best for your journey.