early decision

You are browsing the search results for "early decision"

, ,

What’s The Difference Between Early Decision & Early Action?

college consultant Southington CT

As I work with students and their families on college lists, one question that always comes up is, “what’s the difference between Early Decision and Early Action?”

Typically it’s followed by some sort of statement that sounds like, “I hate to ask a dumb question like this but I really don’t know.”

It’s not a dumb question at all.

In fact, like many other questions that come up during the college search and application process, the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask.

So, let’s talk about the difference.

Early Decision, also known as ED, is binding while Early Action is not. This means that if you apply ED to a college and are admitted, you are now going to be enrolling at that college. You’ve just gotten married, in a sense.
In fact, when you apply ED to a college, and you can only apply to one school as an ED applicant, the student, parents and school counselor all sign an electronic agreement on the application stating that, if admitted, the student agrees to immediately withdraw all other pending applications. You don’t get to see who else wants to admit you and you definitely don’t get to wait around for financial aid awards so that you can compare offers.

So, the ED school says, “yes”, and the student is locked in. Their college application process is over. And, most likely, this is all happening in November or December of their senior year.

Early Action, on the other hand, is non-binding. Students can apply to as many Early Action schools as they like and, if admitted, are under no pressure to commit early. They can wait on their remaining decisions and review their financial aid awards before committing by May 1st. Like ED, students admitted through Early Action are still hearing back earlier in the process than students who apply through Regular Decision (typically January or early February) but the key difference is that their options have not been taken away.

Which brings me to the most important factor in deciding to apply ED or EA.

If a student knows, without a doubt, that the college fits them in every possible way, that it’s THE place they want to attend and that the cost is something the family can afford without regard to financial assistance, then applying ED can work out great. Some of the most selective colleges in the country are more generous with their decisions during the ED round of applications and, therefore, a student’s chances may improve. Note that I did not say, “will” improve. Students who are not strong applicants to begin with will not improve their chances just by applying ED.

But, if you are worried about cost, and you do want to have options, Early Action is very clearly the better way to go.

If you want some help and guidance on your college search and application process, contact me today to set up an appointment for a free 60-minute consultation. Not sure if a college consultant is for you? Here’s what other families like yours are saying about how Dobler College Consulting made a difference for them.

Read More
Eric Jun 12, 2014 , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments
, , ,

Understanding Single Choice Early Action

college admissions consultant cheshireBack in June I wrote a post about the difference between Early Decision and Early Action to help families and students better understand their options in the early admission game. Recently, Michael Nardi, a government relations, economic development & public policy consultant, commented that Early Action comes in a few forms which have ramifications for students considering early applications to other schools.

And he’s absolutely right.

Some schools practice what is called Single Choice Early Action (SCEA) otherwise known as Restrictive Early Action (REA).

Let’s take a look at two of the more popular schools in the Boston area, Harvard and Boston College, to understand what all of this means.

1. If a school offers SCEA or REA, neither is a binding decision meaning that if a student is admitted, he or she can still wait to hear on their other applications before making a decision prior to May 1st.

2. Students need to pay close attention to the fine print in regards to Early Decision (ED) applications. Harvard’s SCEA policy says that while students cannot apply anywhere ED, they can apply in the second round of ED applications known as ED II if, and only if, the application due date is January 1st or later. Boston College, on the other hand will not allow a student to apply ED or ED II period.

3. Early Action applications to other schools are also affected. At Harvard, students cannot apply to any other private colleges EA but may apply to public colleges while Boston College applicants can still apply EA to both.

4. Students cannot apply using SCEA at more than one school. Both Harvard and Boston College adhere to this rule.

5. Students are allowed to apply to any other college, private or public, through Rolling Admission or Regular Decision at both Harvard and Boston College.

So why do these colleges use these restrictive policies?

Colleges admit students with the hope that the student will ultimately accept the offer and enroll there. Of all the ways to demonstrate interest, applying SCEA is one the most definitive ways to show a school they are your top choice. If you are admitted through SCEA you can still consider other offers, but you’ve given up a lot of other early admission opportunities to do so and you have sent a pretty clear message that you are likely to enroll if admitted. And students who are likely to enroll at a college are extremely valuable to admission counselors.

At the end of the day, if you have your heart set on attending Harvard, Boston College, or one of the other schools who offer a form of SCEA like Princeton, Georgetown, Yale, Notre Dame or Stanford, then applying early is most likely a good choice. Of course, you need to make sure that you are a strong candidate to begin with and that your application is flawless and ready to go by November 1st.

If you want some help and guidance on your college search and application process, contact me today to set up an appointment for a free 60-minute consultation. Here’s what other families like yours are saying about how Dobler College Consulting made a difference for them.

Read More
Eric Aug 29, 2014 , , , , , , , No Comments

Student Athlete Consulting Plan

The Student Athlete Consulting Plan

Through a co-counseling partnership with the Student Athlete Advisors, the Student Athlete Consulting Plan covers the core aspects of the college planning process for students looking to play a sport in college. Students will work with the Student-Athlete Advisors to identify priorities for their recruiting process, learn how, and when, to contact college coaches, and develop a list of colleges that are appropriate for their athletic profile.

Additionally, Dobler College Consulting provides 24/7 access for both the parents and the student to an online college planning database which we use for college research and overall organization of deadlines and requirements. We also send post-meeting recaps outlining the student’s progress, as well as upcoming goals, deadlines and announcements. The parents and the student both receive unlimited contact by phone or email to discuss questions or concerns in addition to a weekly “Monday Morning Update” which outlines key dates, deadlines and timely reminders.

Here is a more detailed outline of everything we will cover in the Student Athlete Consulting Plan:

 

VIPS Assessment

Assess student's values, interests, personality-style and skills (what we call VIPS) to help them develop a more informed idea of their values, strengths and weaknesses. Results are then used to create the college list, generate ideas for the essay and develop strategies to construct the strongest applications possible.

Paying For College

Parent meeting and ongoing communication regarding college costs, merit scholarships, net price calculators, scholarships and tuition discounting, to reduce the potential for excessive debt.

The College List

In coordination with athletic recruiting list created by The Student-Athlete Advisors, review and modification of a balanced college list that balances academic, social and financial fit. Organize a standardized testing plan for the SAT or ACT including strategies for preparation. Make final determination of which schools should be applied to Early Decision or Early Action and ongoing modification and organization of the list until all applications are submitted.

Activities Planning & The Activity List

Review of accomplishments, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, and career exploration to help the student develop an activity list which can be used for applications.

Interviewing

Develop an interview plan including a mock interview (where appropriate) to help the student approach any interviews or interactions with admission counselors with confidence.

The College Essay

Essay brainstorming session on how to best approach all required essay prompts. Detailed suggestions throughout the writing process to ensure the student effectively shares his or her story in a way that makes the essay stand out. Of special note here: We never write any part of any essay. The student is always the author.

Application Review

Create a master schedule of all tasks to be completed with deadlines based on stated goals and interests. Conduct a thorough review of high school profile, transcript, and projected courses to ensure student makes the most of all available academic opportunities. Brainstorm ideas for all supplemental essays and provide detailed suggestions throughout the writing process. Thorough review of each application prior to its submission with special attention placed on all Early Decision or Early Action applications. Organize and manage the completion of all applications and supporting materials by their respective deadlines.

The Final Decision

Evaluate all admissions decisions, financial aid awards, and/or merit scholarship offers.

PLEASE NOTE: Dobler College Consulting is unable to guarantee admission to any college or university.  Our goal is to assist each student in making informed decisions with the understanding that the admissions process is complex and uncertain, and a college or university’s decision to accept or reject an applicant is completely outside of our control.

Read More
Eric May 26, 2023 Comments Disabled

College Planning Timeline

College Planning Timeline

There’s a lot to do along the way from the time when you go online to research that first college of interest to May 1st of your senior year in high school when you commit to the college where you will enroll. And, like any journey, it’s always helpful to have a plan. The following master plan is intended to be a general map of what to do throughout your four years in high school to ensure that things go as smoothly for you as they can.

FRESHMAN YEAR

*Develop your time management and study skills.

*Explore and engage with extracurricular activities (e.g., clubs, sports, community service, fine and performing arts, work, and other in-or out-of-school activities) that align with your interests, values, and strengths.

*Create an honors and activity list to track all your honors, awards, accolades, extracurricular activities, summer experiences, and other achievements.

*Start building a relationship with your school counselor by talking to them about classes, your goals, clubs, activities, etc. 

*Parents: Start exploring how to pay for college.

*Athletes: Familiarize yourself with the NCAA athletic recruiting requirements.

*Plan a summer experience that helps you explore a passion or interest.

SOPHOMORE YEAR

*Complete a personality and interests assessment to learn more about your values, interests, strengths, and learning style. Use the results to explore possible majors and career paths.

*Continue participating in extracurricular activities. See if you can deepen your involvement or take on a leadership role in the activities you’ve already been doing. Alternatively, step outside your comfort zone and try something new.

*Update your honors and activity list.

*Stay focused on keeping your grades up. 

*Take the October PSAT. 

*Attend a local college fair in the second half of sophomore year to start gathering information on colleges. 

*Meet with your school counselor at least once a year to discuss course selection. Continue building this relationship by asking questions about new courses and suggestions for ways to develop your interests.

*Explore possible college majors and careers further by arranging for a job shadow or informational interview.

*Visit a local college or two to begin identifying what characteristics stand out to you.

*Athletes: Let your high school counselor know you’re considering college athletics and register for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse. Then double-check that all of your courses are NCAA-approved. Not all high school courses count towards their requirements.

*Athletes: Complete online athletic recruitment forms for each college you're considering. You'll find these on the college's website under "athletics." Once you’ve completed the online recruitment forms, make your sports resume and recruitment videos. Spread out your correspondence with coaches by sending the resumes and video a few weeks after you complete the online forms.

JUNIOR YEAR

Fall:

*Start a preliminary list of colleges to visit. 

*Schedule a meeting with your school counselor to discuss the colleges you are interested in. Tell them about your college preferences and ask for their suggestions of colleges that might be a good fit for you. Doing so helps you continue to develop your relationship with your counselor.

*Take the October PSAT. This test qualifies students for the National Merit Scholarship. While you wait for results to be released in December, take a practice ACT and to determine which test may be better for you; then set up a testing timeline.

*Research and visit colleges on your college list. 

*Stay consistent with your non-academic extracurricular activities if your values and priorities haven’t changed. If they have, try something new. Continue to look for ways to explore and deepen your interests in these activities. Try a leadership role if you haven’t already.

*Continue to update your honors and activity list.

*Athletes: Continue completing online athletic recruitment forms for each college you're considering and sending correspondence to coaches a few weeks after you complete the online forms.

Winter:

*Research and submit applications for any relevant summer programs.

*Prepare for SAT and/or ACT tests in March, April, May, and June. Register for senior year classes. Remember colleges will want to see a strong senior year course load including five academic core classes.

*Continue visiting colleges and refine your college list based on your values and your research.

Spring:

*Attend local college fairs to meet college reps and ask questions that will help you (A) demonstrate interest and (B) start to narrow down your college list.

*Prepare for SAT and/or ACT tests in May, and June.

*Brainstorm ideas for your college essay and then work on subsequent drafts so that you have an essay in progress before the summer hits.

*Prepare for May AP tests.

*Request at least two teacher recommendations, preferably from current 11th grade teachers. 

Summer:

*Start working on your Common App by filling out the six main pages of information.

*Participate in summer experiences (research, reading, internships, fun stuff).

*Continue narrowing down your college list so that you have a final list in place before the end of July. Be sure it reflects a balance of admission probabilities (likely, possible, and reach schools).

*Research your colleges’ requirements to see if an interview is offered or required. Interviews will typically be offered over the summer and into the fall.

*Make decisions about any Early Action and, where appropriate, Early Decision, applications. Set up a timeline for yourself based on all of your colleges’ application deadlines. 

*Prepare for SAT and/or ACT tests in August, September, and October.

*Complete the Common Application after it opens for the new academic year in early August.

*Visit any colleges on your list that you have yet to see, especially if it will help you decide if you really want to apply or not.

*Start working on applications and supplements due in October. 

SENIOR YEAR

September:

*Complete and submit applications and supplements due in October.

*Start working on applications and supplements due in November. 

*Prepare for SAT and/or ACT tests in October. 

*Complete any additional visits or attend open houses to ask any last minute questions of college reps.

*Schedule interviews with college reps who will be in your area.

*Parents: Start preparing financial aid paperwork and develop a deadlines list.

October:

*Complete and submit applications and supplements due in November.

*Start working on applications and supplements due in December.

*Complete any additional visits or attend open houses to ask any last minute questions of college reps.

*Schedule interviews with college reps who will be in your area.

*Send SAT or ACT results to your colleges after checking whether they allow self-reported scores.

*Parents: Where applicable, complete the FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE financial aid applications.

November, December, and January:

*Complete and submit applications and supplements due in December and January.

*Start working on applications and supplements due in February. 

*Search and apply for private scholarships.

*If deferred, respond accordingly based on the college’s directions to reaffirm your interest and offer any updates (activities, achievements, awards, etc).

February, March and April:

*Search and apply for private scholarships.

*Plan visits to accepted colleges, especially admitted student events, when possible to make your final college choice.

*Evaluate financial aid packages and scholarship offerings to figure out how to pay for college.

*Make final decision on which college you will attend ahead of May 1st and then withdraw applications from all other colleges.

 

 

The college admissions journey is an important milestone in a student’s life, and one that is highly personalized.  We hope that you will choose to partner with a DCC College Advisor during this journey. We can provide expert guidance in each of the steps presented in this timeline, customizing the tasks to the individual needs and strengths of the student.  

Read More
Eric Mar 08, 2020 Comments Disabled