Do colleges accept before regular decision?

I've heard rumors that some colleges might offer acceptance letters before the official regular decision timeline. Is this true? If so, how does it work and which schools typically do this? Would love to hear if anyone's experienced this process!

Some colleges, particularly less-selective ones or ones where an applicant is a standout candidate, may occasionally extend an offer of admission earlier than their stated regular decision notification date. It's not a common practice though, especially among the most selective colleges, as they usually want to make holistic decisions after reviewing all applications.

This early notification often comes about as a kind of "rolling admissions" that some schools offer alongside their regular decision process. In a rolling admission process, colleges consider applications as they come in and make decisions throughout the admission season, rather than after a single deadline.

However, bear in mind that even if you receive early notification of acceptance, you still have until May 1st (National College Decision Day) to make your final decision. It's important to consider all of your options thoroughly before making this big decision.

So, while what you've heard isn't entirely off base, it's not the norm and potentially only applicable under certain circumstances and at certain schools. It's wise to stick to colleges' advertised timelines for the most accurate expectation setting. And don't forget—it's always a good idea to focus on crafting the best application you can, rather than on when you'll receive a decision.