| Many parents and students I counsel confuse Early | | | | that school. This is a binding contract restricting the |
| Admission, Early Read, Early Decision, Early Action | | | | student to that one school. Once accepted, the |
| and Early Notification. How these and the other | | | | student must notify all other schools applied to and |
| admission strategies listed below are used, will | | | | request that their application be withdrawn. There is |
| determine the course of the student's college years. | | | | however, an upside. If money is not an issue, and |
| Understanding them is an absolute must! | | | | the family will not be applying for financial aid, Early |
| Early Admission: Typically, the student applies to | | | | Decision is highly recommended, because it will give |
| college at the beginning of the junior year and simply | | | | the student a decisive advantage in the admissions |
| goes through the process earlier. However, Early | | | | process! On the other hand, if financial aid is an issue, |
| Admission is seldom used as it only applies to the | | | | the danger is that the student must attend that |
| most exceptional students who complete all high | | | | college regardless of the financial aid offered! While |
| school requirements prior to the 12th grade, or even | | | | Early Decision adds some leverage to being accepted, |
| earlier. Although it is not binding, I strongly | | | | the financial consequences can be devastating |
| recommend that the student demonstrate a college | | | | because the student must accept the school's |
| level of social and emotional maturity before | | | | financial aid package no matter how inadequate it |
| implementing this strategy. Schools often get into a | | | | might be! I only recommend Early Decision under very |
| bidding contest to recruit the truly exceptional | | | | specific circumstances. Also, if you change your mind, |
| student, some offering full scholarships for the | | | | rescinding an Early Decision acceptance doesn't sit |
| privilege of having such an accomplished student on | | | | well with the schools. This option should only be used |
| their campus! Nonetheless, use with extreme caution! | | | | with extreme caution. |
| Early Read: A number of colleges will offer to | | | | Early Decision II: Offered by some schools, it is |
| calculate a family's EFC, (the expected family | | | | virtually identical to Early Decision except the |
| contribution; the minimum amount determined by the | | | | application deadlines are later, usually January 1st. As |
| federal government that a family will pay at any | | | | with Early Decision, only one school can be applied to. |
| college for each student). This is done without | | | | I'm not an advocate of this one either. Follow the |
| obligating the student to apply to their school. Simply | | | | Early Decision criteria above and proceed accordingly. |
| send them all your financial information at the | | | | Early Action: Except for Early Decision candidates, I |
| beginning of the 12th grade! Sounds like a good deal, | | | | encourage all students to apply for Early Action. |
| right? Wrong! Wherever possible, keep the schools | | | | Students apply from September 15th to January 1st, |
| and the federal government out of your wallet! If | | | | and notices usually go out between December 15th |
| the student eventually decides to apply to that | | | | and January 31st, (dates may vary). Applying for |
| school, the aid offer has already been predetermined. | | | | Early Action has one definite advantage. Since the |
| Surely, you wouldn't feel comfortable having the IRS | | | | competition is so fierce, the sooner a student applies |
| calculate your taxes, so why would you have a | | | | the better. For the barely qualified student, this is the |
| college determine your EFC? Avoid this at all costs! | | | | only way to go. It would be highly unlikely such a |
| Failure to heed this advice will result in paying | | | | student would qualify in the general applicant pool, as |
| thousands more than you had to for a college | | | | they would be competing against far too many honor |
| education! | | | | students and would pale by comparison. Also, |
| Early Decision: This is a program with earlier deadlines | | | | students apply to college at the beginning of the |
| and notification dates than the regular decision | | | | senior year, and any grades beyond mid-term may |
| process. Students who apply for an Early Decision | | | | not count at all! Always implement this strategy! |
| program commit to attending that school and only | | | | |