Understand College  
Admissions Options
Generally, there are five options for college 
admissions. The option you select will impact when 
your application is due, when you find out if you 
are accepted, and your ability to choose a school 
based on how much financial aid it offers. Options  
and deadlines vary by schools, so carefully research 
the schools to which you are interested in applying. 
Option 1: Early Decision 
Early Decision is an option reserved only for the 
school you are certain is your best fit — academically, 
socially, and financially. When you apply via Early 
Decision, you promise you will attend the college 
if admitted and withdraw all other applications. Early 
Decision lets you show your commitment to a school 
by applying by an Early Decision deadline (often  
November 1 or 15, and sometimes January 1 for an 
additional Early Decision II deadline). Most schools 
provide decisions four to six weeks later. Early Decision 
can give you an advantage when applying to a selective 
college. Choosing Early Decision can make you more 
likely to be admitted at a selective college than if you 
applied via Regular Decision or Early Action.
Early Decision and Financial Aid
If you are accepted Early Decision and the estimated 
financial aid package offered by the college at the 
time of your acceptance does not make that school 
affordable for you, you may forfeit your admission 
and apply to other colleges. Remember, no college 
is your “right fit” if you cannot afford to go there.
Option 2: Early Action 
Early Action allows you to apply earlier to — and  
hear back sooner from — the colleges you are most 
interested in. Applications are usually due in early 
to mid-November. Early Action indicates that you are 
very interested in a school; however, it is non-binding, 
meaning it does not commit you to attend the school.
Option 3: Restrictive Early Action 
Restrictive Early Action is also non-binding; typically,  
if you apply Restrictive Early Action to a private  
university, you cannot apply to other private schools 
early, but can apply to public universities early. However, 
different schools have different rules for Restrictive 
Early Action, so check each school's website carefully.
Option 4: Rolling Admissions 
Rolling Admissions applications are evaluated on 
a first-come, first-served basis, until the school fills 
its first-year class. You will receive an admissions 
decision within four to eight weeks of applying.  
Rolling Admissions allows you to apply to as many 
schools as you want and to compare financial aid 
packages. Most universities in the Pennsylvania State 
System of Higher Education use Rolling Admissions.
Option 5: Regular Decision 
Regular Decision is the most common admissions  
option and allows you to apply to as many schools 
as you like and compare financial aid packages. 
Applications are typically due between November and 
February. Decisions arrive between March and April.
Compare Admissions Options
	
Early	
Early	
Restrictive	
Rolling	
Regular	
	
Decision 	
Action	
Early Action	
Admissions	
Decision 
Allows you to compare financial aid packages	
	
X	
X	
X	
X	
You hear back quickly	
X	
X	
X	
X
Tells a school it is your first choice	
X	
	
X
Does not require you to commit to one school	
	
X	
X	
X	
X
Increases your chance of acceptance,
if you are a strong candidate	
X	
	
X
If you wait too long, all spots may be filled	
	
	
	
X	
	
Factors to Consider
33
Applying to College

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