Make Sense of Early Admissions

In the world of competitive admissions, applicants are always looking for an edge. Applying to college early can offer an admissions advantage over waiting until the regular decision round. But early action and early decision admissions options aren't the best choices for everyone.

Learn more about whether or not your student should consider applying to college early.

UNDERSTANDING EARLY ADMISSIONS

10 Colleges Where Early Applicants Have an Edge

Early applicants have a major advantage at some schools. Check out these 10 colleges where applying early gave students an admissions boost in fall 2020, per data shared with U.S. News.

3 Reasons to Skip Applying to College Early

Admissions advantages aside, applying to college early isn't for everyone. Procrastination, indecisiveness and financial aid are factors to consider when deciding to apply early or not.

What Happens to Students Who Back Out of Early Decision Offers

Getting into college via the early decision route typically comes with a commitment to enroll at that school. Backing out of that commitment may come with consequences.

Regroup After an Early Admission College Rejection

Despite some advantages, applying via early decision or early action isn't a slam dunk. Learn how your teen can rebound if he or she doesn't get accepted via the early admissions route.

FIND YOUR SCHOOL

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Enter your preferences and profile information here, and we'll show you a personalized ranking of which schools are the best fit for you. You can also sign in to your free U.S. News account to see how you stack up against applicants across the country with our College Admissions Calculator.