How does priority status work in college applications for juniors?

I'm a high school junior and heard about priority status for college applications. Can anyone explain how it works, and if it's something I should be pursuing now? Interested in understanding the benefits and deadlines.

Sure, happy to explain! Basically, colleges in their pursuit to attract a diverse range of applicants might designate certain students as 'priority applicants'. This doesn’t necessarily mean they're guaranteed admission, but they receive a bit of an advantage or a ‘priority standing’ in the process.

There are various benefits associated with being a priority applicant, and they can vary between schools. These benefits can include waived application fees, quicker decision timelines, priority consideration for scholarships, and usually more personalized attention from admissions throughout the application process.

As for how you get this status, it's mostly based off the interest you show in the school. Ways you can demonstrate this interest could include visiting the campus (when that's possible), attending college fairs and speaking with admissions representatives, signing up for and participating in the college's online informational sessions, and completing an early action or early decision application.

For the deadlines, it usually falls earlier than the regular decision deadline. Often, it's the same as the early action or early decision deadline, though it varies from school to school. I recommend you check the admissions pages of the schools you're interested in for the most accurate dates.

It's definitely something to consider, as it can make the application process smoother and potentially increase your chances at acceptance or scholarships. However, it should ideally align with your genuine interest in a school rather than a strategy to maximize chances at any school. Furthermore, it's important to remember that it doesn’t guarantee acceptance; it's just another factor in the holistic review process.

Finally, to leverage this, you should start demonstrating interest during your junior year - now is a perfect time! Start going to informational sessions, reaching out to colleges you're interested in, and take note of early action/decision deadlines. Good luck!