Early decision and early action are often presented as great strategies for college applicants. However, for some high school students, early application options can do more harm than good.The following three signs might indicate that you should consider waiting for the general application deadline.
1. The early decision or early action deadline is swiftly approaching. Early decision and early action typically have a shorter application window than general admissions. Most deadlines are in early November, and compiling a high-quality college application in that compressed time frame involves a great deal of work.
After all, at a minimum you will still need letters of recommendation — and your recommenders will require lead time to write them — as well as an essay tailored to each school.
[Ask yourself these four questions before you apply early decision.]
If you realize that you have a short window until the early decision deadlines and you only have your application partially completed, it may be better to wait until the general admissions deadline.
You may be tempted to quickly cobble together an application because, according to the statistics, early applicants have a higher acceptance rate. Remember, though, that many early applicants are highly qualified and have prepared well in advance.
If your application is rushed and does not reflect your true value as a student, you may ultimately damage your admissions chances. Your ultimate goal should be to present the best possible case for yourself.
2. You cannot decide between two or more schools. Another reason to avoid early applications is if you have two — or more — equally attractive colleges on your short list. In this instance, you may want additional time to decide which school is right for you.
The college selection process includes multiple elements that can take some time to investigate. Campus visits, whether virtual or in-person, can stretch well into the fall semester.
[Read these 10 tips to make your final college choice.]
Social media accounts can hint at a student body’s attitudes and interests, but you may need to follow them for several weeks or months. Or perhaps you have just been too busy to think deeply about which college you prefer.
You may be tempted to choose one of your favorites, apply early and be glad for the potential acceptance. But extra weeks or months of investigation could pay off if you discover a deal breaker at a previously adored school or an amazing feature that you had not expected.
Even with early action, where you are not obligated to accept an offer, you run the risk of overcommitment. The act of applying to just one of your top colleges must bias you somewhat — this is why schools offer such an option, after all. Rather than considering each college on its own merits, you may be faced with the implicit obligation of remaining with the first school that admitted you.
3. You want to closely compare financial aid packages, Financial aid is a serious component of the college selection process. When an early application is approved, you receive a binary choice: take or leave the offered support.
If, on the other hand, you wait for the general admissions deadline and you are accepted to several colleges, you will have a range of financial aid offers to consider. You may find that your first-choice school offered a great package after all. You may also find that one of your alternate colleges offered a much better option.
[Here are four financial aid facts early decision applications should know.]
Another benefit of having multiple offers is the ability to negotiate with schools. Most admissions departments have some discretion in the incentives they can offer. Do not be afraid to leverage offers from second-choice colleges to secure a better financial aid package from your top choice.
Early applications can be a great choice for some students. For many other students, however, there are benefits to waiting for the general application deadline. Do your research and make the choice that works best for you.
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3 Reasons to Skip Applying to College Early originally appeared on usnews.com
