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Overview of University Admissions Terminology

Overview of University Admissions Terminology

The Branksome Hall Asia University Counselors have recently fielded some specific questions about ED’s, EA’s, Regular Decisions and Rolling Admissions with regard to the graduating class of 2021. We thought that a brief overview of the US Universities and Colleges admission scheme terminologies would be helpful and this description follows:

  • Early Decision - There are two early decision deadlines, ED1 in November and the slightly less common ED2 in January. These are more common at private liberal arts colleges. ED1 students typically apply by November 1st in anticipation of an admissions decision by December 15th. Early Decision applications are binding. This means that if a student is accepted, then they must enroll at this school. Students should think very carefully before applying to a university Early Decision. The Early Decision university should be your first choice (worldwide) and if accepted, you will withdraw all other applications (worldwide) and attend that university. Strategically, the Early Decision option can help students by gaining access to reach schools with low acceptance rates and allow students to know early in the college admission process that they have been unconditionally accepted.
  • Early Action - Students typically apply by November/December in anticipation of an admissions decision earlier than that of the regular acceptance decisions, which can be as late as April and May. This type of application scheme is non-binding and non-restrictive. Students may apply to as many universities in the US as they choose under early action policies.
     
  • Regular decision - Students typically apply by early January in anticipation of an admissions decision by April 1st. This type of deadline is non-binding and non-restrictive.
     
  • Rolling admissions - Students can apply over a set period of time (typically August to spring), and admission decisions will be made on a rolling basis. However we still recommend that you apply early (October/November) if possible. This type of admissions track is non-binding and non-restrictive.

If students or parents have any questions about the University application process in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world, please contact your Branksome Hall Asia counselor directly.

 

Lee Sterling III on behalf of the Branksome Hall Asia University Counselors