Undergraduate admissions / College list and early decision
College List and Early Decision Strategy
Help building a balanced college list and choosing between Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and Regular Decision.
Build a balanced list
A balanced list includes reach, target, and likely colleges. Beyond admission odds, a good list reflects fit. Fit usually comes down to a few questions:
Does the college offer the major or the range of subjects the applicant wants?
Do the size, location, and culture of the campus match how the applicant learns?
How does the applicant’s record compare with the college’s admitted students?
Does the college offer the opportunities the applicant cares about, such as research, internships, or study abroad?
Testing policies
Testing policies differ by college. Some require SAT or ACT scores, some are test-optional, and some do not consider scores at all. Policies also change, so we check each college’s current policy and decide with the applicant whether to submit scores. Our test prep page covers preparation for applicants who need it.
Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision
Early Decision is binding: an admitted applicant agrees to attend. The applicant, a parent, and the school counselor sign an agreement on the Common App. Early Action is not binding. Restrictive Early Action, also called Single-Choice Early Action, is not binding either, but it limits where else the applicant can apply early. Regular Decision has a later deadline and no commitment. Some colleges also offer Early Decision II, a second binding round, usually in January.
Which plan fits depends on the applicant. An early round makes sense when the application will be ready by the deadline and the college is a clear first choice. Applicants should apply Early Decision only when they are prepared to attend if admitted. Deadlines vary by college, so confirm them on each college’s website.
How we work with applicants on it
We review the applicant’s record and goals, propose a list, and revisit it as grades, scores, and essays develop. We also help the applicant choose a round for each college. Early rounds set when the supplemental essays are due, so the plan covers those as well.
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
College list and early decision
What to Expect
In a free consultation, we review the applicant’s profile, goals, and school list. List and strategy work then follows three steps.
Profile Review
We review the applicant’s grades, courses, activities, and goals, and discuss what the applicant wants from a college.
College List
We build a list of reach, target, and likely colleges and revisit it as grades and essays develop.
Round & Timeline
We choose an application round for each college and plan the timeline backward from the deadlines.
A near-peer advisor on every application
Every applicant works closely with a near-peer advisor, a recent graduate of a top university who has been through the process. Before anything is submitted, it goes through review by our senior team. Meet our advisors, see where our students have been admitted on the results page, or read the FAQ.