Restrictive Early Action

There can be a lot of pressure to apply early at this time of year -- from peers, parents and media. Students start thinking that they must apply NOW under an early action or early decision plan.  Before you succumb to that pressure, spend some time understanding how decision plans really work, what the numbers in the headlines actually mean, and whether it's a good idea for you personally. Check out the Decision Plan Chapter Excerpt on the Book page here on the website to understand how your grades and scores could figure into a decision to apply early and benefit from the input on decision plans from the deans at Johns Hopkins, Drake University, and Northern Illinois University, as well as others.

You have applied under early action, rolling admission, or restrictive early action and you’re in.

Congratulations!

We now encourage you to do the right thing. If you know you will not enroll at some of the other colleges on your list, don’t continue with your applications to them. Go back through that original list and cross off those schools. Or, if you’ve already sent in your applications, let those colleges know your plans.

Don’t collect trophies in the form of admission letters from colleges you will never attend.

For seventeen years, high school counselor Cigus Vanni has created and maintained a series of lists that are great tools for students -- and counselors. We're delighted he is allowing us to share these lists with our readers. Because of their length, we are featuring them as separate posts. Last week, we posted 2012-2013 Schools that require or recommend Subject Tests. Today, we are featuring 2012 colleges and universities with Early Action plans. 

Early action plans are typically nonrestrictive. Students apply by a deadline that is earlier than the school's Regular Decision deadline and receive a decision earlier than the regular response date. Applicants are free to apply to other colleges and are not required to commit to a school until May 1, the National Candidates Reply Date.

However, please note, that a handful of schools listed here have Restrictive Early Action plans -- including Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Boston College, and several others. These plans note the schools' requirements for admission under these plans in bold. If you are applying under a Restrictive Early Action plan, check the website of that college to understand the specifics of their restrictions and requirements. 

Before we exit the subject of early admission this week, we'd like to leave you with a final thought in this excerpt from our book: Students: Do the Right Thing! You have applied under early action, rolling admission, or restrictive early action and you’re in. Congratulations. We now encourage you to do the right thing. If you know you will not enroll at some of the other colleges on your list, don’t apply to them. Go back through that original list and cross off those schools. Or, if you’ve already sent in your applications, let those colleges know your plans. Don’t collect trophies in the form of admission letters from colleges you will never attend. There are some exceptions to this rule. Some colleges very much want to make their case to you even if you have been admitted to another college under rolling admission, early action, or restrictive early action. If there are schools on your list you can still imagine you might attend, feel welcome to keep your options alive provided you are open to the case those colleges will make. And if you need to compare financial aid or merit scholarship awards, you will definitely want to proceed with applications to the other schools on your list. As you can see, this isn’t simple. But matters of integrity rarely are.