Final Tips for Early Decision Applications

Take Some Time to Review and Reflect Before Applying Early Early application deadlines are right around the corner! If you are one of the many seniors applying to college early decision or early action this fall, there are a few things that you should double-check before hitting â€Å"submit!† Applying in the early round can have a number of benefits, like learning your admission decision sooner, better admission odds, and sometimes better financial aid options, but applying early shouldn't be taken lightly. While the application pool may be smaller, it’s typically more competitive and decisions can be binding – meaning you must attend if admitted. Students should only apply in the early round if they’re 100% ready and know that the institution is their top-choice. Before submitting your early application, make sure your application is the best representation of who you are as a student and that you’ve taken time to reflect on how applying early might impact your admissions journey. Here are some final tips for early applications. Reflect Before You Hit Send First, make sure that you reflect on why you are applying early to these schools. Is it because you’ve always had your heart set on this school or because you are a legacy? Is it because you feel as though this school aligns with what you are looking for in a university or college? Or, is it merely because you want to get your applications out of the way and avoid the waiting game later this spring? Make sure you are applying early decision or early action for the right reasons. Don’t just apply early to avoid the stress later on and to get it out of the way. Be sure to ask yourself the question, â€Å"Will I still feel as strongly about this school in a few months?† Plan Ahead By now you should have gathered all necessary application materials, so don’t wait until the last minute to submit them. If it helps, consider changing the application deadline date in your mind to a few days before. Make a point to have everything submitted by Oct. 26 or 27, for example, if your deadline is actually Nov. 1 or 15. This way, you will be able to put yourself in a good position to avoid any hiccups that are out of your control, such as Internet outages or website issues. Seek Out Second Opinions Make sure to have a second, third, or fourth pair of eyes look over your application from start to finish. Having different people read over the entire application will ensure that you did not look over any small mistakes or details. Also be sure to enlist people other than your friends or parents. Have your college counselor look over it as well, to ensure that everything is in the right order and that it looks good from an admissions standpoint! Look Ahead Prepare for every admission outcome, including a deferral. Make sure that you continue to complete your regular decision applications as you wait to learn your early admission decision. Keep track of any relevant information that pertains to late fall through April, should you need to update your early college with new information in the event of a deferral. Another issue that tends to creep up on seniors at this time of year is senioritis. Keep in mind that this process is not over until you have graduated, so don’t let senioritis get in the way of you attending the school of your dreams! IvyWise is here to help you tackle the admissions process with confidence and ease. Contact us today for more information. Also, to keep up to date on the latest tips for college admissions, be sure to follow us and join our mailing list.