COLLEGE PATH

WHY ARE RANKINGS IMPORTANT?

Each student should have three categories of colleges/universities they would like to attend. Often times your guidance counselor, which is an excellent resource, will direct students to have the following:

1. Reach Schools

2. Not a Reach School

3. Safety Schools

We suggest that students take it further and narrow their scope based on internal rankings that are used across the board:

1. Ivy League

2. Should Have Been An Ivy AKA 1st Tier Ivies

3. Wannabe Ivies

4. No Slouches

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY?

Regular decision: is the application deadline that most students will meet in early January.  The pool of applicants is much higher and accounts for the statistics that are published regarding the selection of students.

• Students will receive a decision in late winter (march).

• The student can compare financial aid packages.

• The student is not bound to one college.

There are also other application choices available to a student [who has done their research and weighed all options carefully] can make. If you are sure about which college you would like to attend, then these may be viable options.  Currently, there are about 400 + higher institutions and you have the  following options available as a student:

Early decision(ed):

• Student applies early (usually November) to their first college of choice.

• Student receives an admission decision by early winter (December; which is well before the regular admission decisions).

• Student can only apply to one college for early decision.

• Student can still apply to other colleges via regular admissions, however, if they are accepted into this college they must withdraw all other applications.

• The receipt of admissions to this university/college is binding-i.e. you must attend.

• Student do not have the opportunity to  compare financial aid packages from other schools.

Early action(ea):

• Student applies early.

• Student receives an admission decision by late winter (february/march).

• Students can consider the offer of admission but does not have to commit at the time of acceptance.

• Student can still apply to other colleges via regular admissions

Benefits of ED or EA

• The applicant pool is much smaller than for regular admissions and the number of applicants may be in the thousands.

• Student can avoid stress and paperwork during the "regular" season for admissions.

• Students can save time and money by not submitting multiple applications.

• If the student is not accepted, then that student can reassess their option via regular decision.