Understanding Regular Decision

Can someone explain what exactly a regular decision application is and how it differs from options like early decision? I'm trying to decide the best strategy for my college applications this year.

Sure, happy to help explain! Every college has different types of application plans, and it's crucial to understand each one as they can have a significant impact on your overall college application strategy.

Regular Decision is the most common admission plan. It has a later deadline than early plans (typically around January 1st), and you'll usually receive the decision in late March or April. Importantly, this is a non-binding plan, meaning that if you're accepted, you're not obligated to enroll, and you'll have until May 1st (known as Decision Day) to consider all your options and decide where you want to attend.

On the other hand, Early Decision (ED) is a binding option. If you're accepted, you're committed to attend that college, as long as the financial aid package is sufficient. You can only apply ED to one school, but the benefit is that you often have a significantly higher chance of being admitted. This is usually a good option if you have a clear first-choice school.

Another early option is Early Action (EA), which is similar to ED in terms of having an early deadline (usually November) and getting your decision early (usually by January). Unlike ED, however, it's non-binding, so you can still choose to attend another college if you get in. You can generally apply EA to multiple schools.

Recall that applying ED may increase your chances of admission, but it also limits your ability to compare financial aid offers from different institutions. That's why, unless you're 100% certain about wanting to attend a particular college and you've researched the financial aid situation thoroughly, Regular Decision could be a safer bet so that you can weigh all your options.

When deciding which plan to use, consider factors such as your level of interest in each college, your need for financial aid, and the strength of your application profile. Factors can include everything from your grades and test scores to your extracurricular activities and essays. Remember to strategize and make informed decisions that are right for you.