Changing Early Action to Regular Decision on the Common App

If I decide to switch from Early Action to Regular Decision on the Common App, is there a specific process I should follow? Are there any potential drawbacks or things I need to consider when making this change?

You can easily change from Early Action to Regular Decision on the Common App. Here's how you can do it:

1. Go to the dashboard on your Common App account, find the school you have chosen for Early Action, and select "View Application".

2. In the section "Questions", there's a question about the decision plan you are applying for, where you can change from Early Action to Regular Decision.

3. Once you've made this change, you need to review your application once again and then resubmit it.

There are a few things to keep in mind while making this change. First, remember that the deadline for Regular Decision applications is typically later than Early Action. Make sure you check the school's admission website to verify their Regular Decision deadline and submit your application on time.

Second, you should be aware that, on average, Early Action acceptance rates tend to be slightly higher than Regular Decision acceptance rates. However, whether this matters depends on the specific school and the strength of your application. Some schools admit a significant chunk of their incoming class through Early Action, while others don't have much of a difference between Early Action and Regular Decision acceptance rates.

Finally, converting from Early Action to Regular Decision could give you more time to polish your application, add any new achievements, and even take additional SAT/ACT if scores are a consideration for the school.

Make sure to consider all these factors before making the change. Also, it might be a good idea to get in touch with the admissions office of the institution to make sure you have all the information you need before switching your application type.