Application Calendar
They say timing is everything. This could not be more true for the college application process.
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There are a series of decisions students need to make, starting as early as middle school.
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7th through 11th grade: Select courses and earn grades to keep you on track for the major you may want to enter or the school to which you intend on applying. Many schools have specific course requirements as admission requirements (Physics and Pre Calc, for example). You will want to get on track so you are not precluded from those options.
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Junior Year
This is the most important year for grades because it will highlight the advanced courses intensity you can handle and it will be the last set of grades colleges see before your mid years are sent in January/February of your senior year. Additionally, steps need to be taken for testing, recommendations, essay preparation and college visits.
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Senior Year
This is go-time! As indicated above since many deadlines are in the first quarter of the school year, industrious students need to get a head start on what needs to occur.
These are four most common types of application deadlines: Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision and Rolling Admissions.
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Early Action (non binding) Common app choice where you'll submit your application around November (typically Nov 1) and get a decision by December, BUT you can still apply to other schools Early Action, and you don't have to commit to a school if you're admitted. Colleges may divide this deadline between two different dates, both of which are before regular admission deadlines. There are some other details you need to consider when thinking about this choice, like single choice early action schools.
Early Decision (Binding- one choice) Another common app choice where you will submit your application around November (typically Nov 1) and usually get a decision by December. A binding decision you are definitively agreeing to enroll in this particular school if you are admitted. Once accepted, you must withdraw your applications from all other schools to which you applied. Only apply Early Decision if you are 100% sure the college is the only one for you.
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Regular Decision (typical option) Apply in January/February, hear a decision by March/April.
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Rolling Admissions Colleges make decision as applications come in and close out once a course or major is full. A great choice for summer admissions.