Author Archives: Brandon Christol

Process of Initialization

Posted on by
Reply

DYLI? Sorry. I mean, do you like initialisms? I hope so, because today we’d like to shed some light on the three primary college application processes:

ED—Early Decision
EA—Early Action
RD—Regular Decision
AC/DC—Australian rock band

So what are these confusing initialisms all about? Let’s dive in:

Early Decision
What is it? Applying ED is, as Ron Burgundy would say, kind of a big deal. In short, if you apply to a college Early Decision, you are committing to attend the school should you be admitted. You can only apply to one school Early Decision, and you must agree to cancel all of your other college applications if you get admitted. You, a parent and a counselor must all sign a letter indicating your commitment to attend the college. To help you remember what Early Decision is all about, just remember that you are making your college decision when you apply through this mechanism.

Why do it? There are about 135 colleges that offer an Early Decision program, and many of them accept a significantly higher percentage of their ED applicants compared to their other applicants. If you are absolutely positively sure about which college you’d like to attend, applying ED can increase your chances in a competitive admissions environment.

Why not do it? Most ED programs require that you apply by around November 1. It’s often difficult at this early date to know for sure which college you’d most like to attend, yet there’s no going back once you receive that ED acceptance packet. Also, while schools with ED will typically offer a competitive financial aid package, it may not match the scholarships and/or need-based aid you would have received from a different institution.

Final word: Think of ED as proposing to your first-choice college. If you are 110% sure about the fit and financial commitment, it may be worth the leap. Otherwise, a promise ring will suffice for now. (Do those still exist?)

Early Action

What is it? Very different from Early Decision, first of all. Anxious to hear back ASAP? Early Action simply means that the college will send you a decision (i.e., take action) on your application earlier. Offered by about 350 colleges (including Illinois Wesleyan), EA programs typically require a completed application by November 1 or November 15.

Why do it? You can spend less time checking the mailbox and more time deciding among the colleges to which you get admitted.

Why not do it? Don’t let the desire to apply EA rush you when filling out the application. Haven’t quite polished that essay yet? Didn’t have the time to list all of your extracurricular activities? Then there’s nothing wrong with applying …

Regular Decision

What is it? The standard, most popular way to apply to college. The deadline is typically later—perhaps February 1 or 15.

Why do it? It will provide you the most time to prepare a completed application that you can feel confident about. Also, if, say, you learn about a college from a friend over winter break, RD will likely be your only option.

Why not do it? You may not receive a decision until late winter or even April. With May 1 serving as the decision deadline, the RD timeline may not give you a great deal of time to contemplate your final college decision and discuss it with your family.

You have over 4,000 college options to explore, a variety of application deadlines to track and an infinite number of essay topics to consider. In that context, three application processes doesn’t sound so daunting, huh? Visit the websites of your favorite colleges to see what they offer and be sure to discuss your options with a parent or counselor. Best of luck no matter which option(s) you choose, and we’ll TTYL!

High school visits and college fairs: Colleges come to you!

Posted on by
Reply

Ever wanted to fight your way through rush hour traffic, gulp down a combo meal from the same fast food joint you stopped at the day before and frantically search for brochures lost amid the chaos of your untidy trunk?

No? Well, fortunately, that’s our job! But don’t worry about us—we love the rigors of the helter-skelter fall travel season because it allows us to meet with bright, enthusiastic students on their home turf.

From mid-September through mid-November, your high school will likely host dozens, if not hundreds, of visits by college representatives, and there is almost sure to be at least one night during which a local gymnasium, atrium—heck, maybe even the parking lot if it comes to that—will be filled with tables staffed by admissions professionals eager to assist you as you gather information about your myriad college options.

Aside from experiencing a college campus firsthand, taking the time to attend a high school visit or college fair is one of the best ways for you to learn about an unfamiliar college or gain a greater understanding of a college you’ve already begun to research. Here are just a few of the ways you can take advantage of a college representative’s visit to your area:

  • Pick up a brochure. From a list of majors to a school’s student-to-faculty ratio to the cost of attendance, the brochure you snag at a college fair or high school visit (trust me, we have plenty) can provide you with all the key information you need to decide whether that school is a “keeper”—that is, whether you should add it to your short list and perhaps even schedule a visit.
  • Ask a question. We know everything! Well, maybe we just think we know everything … but we do know a lot! Wondering about student life? Need to know if the cafeteria serves Lucky Charms or if you can be in the choir even though you don’t want to major in music? Stop by the high school visit or the table at the college fair and we’ll be happy to answer all of your questions.
  • Hear what your friends and parents have to say. Whether you’re roaming a college fair with mom or dad or attending a high school visit with a few classmates, you’ll find that others often ask questions you wish you’d thought of (like the Lucky Charms one).
  • It can help you get admitted! Many colleges take interest level into account when deciding whom to admit. If we know that you took the time to speak with us at a college fair or while we were at your high school, it could play a positive role during the review of your application. This is especially true if you brought us an ice cold beverage* or a candy bar.**

You have many college options and lots of information to gather as you embark on this exciting journey. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with college representatives when they’re in your backyard! (Not literally.)

We look forward to seeing you this fall!***

*Not true.
**Also not true.
***Especially true!