Check Early Policies Carefully and Maximize your Chance

We are often asked to explain the many application options.  It’s confusing and changes every year. Hard to know what the difference is between “early action” and “early action single choice.”  Figuring out the difference between Early Decision 1 or 2 can be confusing. Now, as you probably know, UVA, Princeton, and Harvard have gone back to an early option (restricted) meaning students can NOT apply to Harvard in the early round AND a binding early decision school. 

 

You do not want to get caught violating these policies so be sure to read the fine print at each school. Here is a quick reference list of the main types of early policies with SAMPLE schools in each category:

 

Types of Applications*

 

* Double check application deadlines as they can vary year to year

** MIT’s Early Action Program is available only to citizens and permanent residents of the United States.

 

The moral of the story is, the rules have changed; in recent years and it is your responsibility to read the fine print carefully and stay within the guidelines for every school you choose.

We do, however, urge students to apply with an early strategy. In case you haven't noticed, the general trend has been that MORE kids are applying not just to Ivies, but to Ivy overflow schools like Middlebury, Connecticut College, Haverford, etc. If you love a school, apply EARLY. Middlebury for example fills 40% of its class early. Keep in mind that the top liberal arts colleges are experiencing the same rise in applicants as top Ivies and bigger schools. You don’t want to be in the regular pool – especially at the Ivies as admissions drops to under 10% in regular – see our chart below!

 

Ivy League — Class of 2016