High school students are exposed to a thrilling array of prestigious universities and colleges that they aspire to attend in future.
In order to get into their dream university, they take proactive efforts from the beginning of their high school to build a strong academic and extracurricular profile to stand out during admissions. Even after careful strategic planning, the possibility of rejection in the early decision round cannot be negated completely.
This article will explore the potential consequences of a setback like this and to cope up with them in the best possible ways, while staying optimistic!
What is meant by Early Decision?
Early decision or ED is a binding college admission process, wherein a student early in their senior year of high school sends his application to one college usually by the month of November. If accepted, the student is legally obligated to attend that college, even if they have applied to other colleges. They must decline the other offers and enrol in that one college that accepted them under ED.
Some of the key aspects that need to be considered while applying to a college under ED –
- Binding Nature – It is a binding agreement and once admitted a student enters into a legal agreement to attend the college. Therefore, the student should be certain to attend the college if accepted.
- Single College Application Rule – Students can apply only to one college under ED, which means that they have to choose wisely and be absolutely sure of their choice.
- Increased Probability – Some colleges may offer slightly higher acceptance rates for ED applicants as compared to students applying under Regular Decision (RD).
- Alleviated Stress – Students applying under ED receive their admission decisions early and if accepted, they can focus on other aspects of high school.
5. Needs Strong Commitment – The student must demonstrate a strong commitment to the institution and build a well-rounded competitive profile, to convince the admission committee to consider them for ED.
Important Aspects of ED That You Need to be Careful About
- Financial Aid – Though some colleges may offer the information on financial aid beforehand, the actual package may not be finalised until later.
- Waitlists – If students don’t get accepted under ED, they may be placed on a waitlist for the RD round.
- Other Options – If students are not certain about a college and want to be considered for multiple colleges, then Early Action or Regular Decision may be better options.
Coping With Early Decision Rejection
Early Decision rejection can be heartbreaking, especially after putting in a lot of hard work and research into your selection of college under the ED admission process. It’s important to understand that setbacks are inevitable when striving for top spots alongside a pool of incredible talented students.
Giving up is never the answer and moving forward is always an option. Let’s discuss a few strategies to help you cope with ED rejection and move forward towards your academic goals –
- Address your emotions
- Understand the reasons for rejection
- Re-evaluate your choice of college(s)
- Focus on Regular Decision (RD) applications
- Explore other options
Address your emotions
It’s important to acknowledge and process your emotions in a healthy way by talking to trusted friends, teachers, and counsellors. Engage in activities that help you de-stress. Remind yourself that one particular outcome does not define you. Exercise, listen to music or go for a walk, but get well soon, as you have to plan your future ahead.
Understand the reasons for rejection
No more sulking! If possible, analyse the reasons for your rejection. Reflect on your application and identify areas that need improvement. Make changes in your profile to strengthen your application.
Re-evaluate your choice of college(s)
Reaffirm your choice of college before applying again to it in future. Go through your application again and identify what can be improved upon to stand out next time. Be flexible and consider other options that may be better fit for your academic and personal goals.
Focus on Regular Decision (RD) applications
Shift your focus to RD applications. Now that you are free to apply to multiple universities and colleges, make sure you pay attention to every single application with utmost care. Use your understanding from the previous rejection to bolster your applications this time. Remember that you are smarter and more aware now.
Explore other options
If you think you need more time, consider alternative pathways to your educational goals. Go to a community college, opt for a gap year, take a year off to work or travel.
Remember, Early Decision rejection is not the end of the world. It gives you a chance to learn, grow and find a college that is a perfect fit for you.
Planning Ahead – What happens after you are rejected in ED?
Not making it in Early Decision can mean the following things –
- The college has rejected your application.
If you receive a rejection notice from the college, the best thing to do is move on. Devise a strategic plan of action. Concentrate on Regular Decision applications for other colleges.
- The college has deferred your application to the Regular Decision round.
It means that there is still a chance for you to get accepted to your dream college, but your application will now compete with others who have applied for the Regular Decision round. Read the Institute specific guidelines carefully and make sure to notify them that you are interested in the RD round.
Sometimes it can be as easy as clicking a box in the student portal for that college or some colleges may accept a letter of continued interest (LOCI) from students confirming their continued commitment to the college. Some colleges may request for additional information like updated grades or test scores.
Be sure to let them know that you still want to be considered. Reach out to them on their website if you get stuck at any point. The colleges generally respond on RD by 1st of April.
What is Regular Decision?
Regular Decision (RD) is the standard and the most common process for college applications, wherein students apply to one or more colleges. Its deadlines are after the Early Decision and Early Action deadlines. It is non-binding, which means if you are accepted, you are not obligated to attend that college. In the RD process, students have the freedom to make the final decision after comparing offers from other schools as well. It’s a good choice for students who want to explore different colleges and compare their offers.
3. Some colleges may offer the possibility of Early Decision
Some colleges also offer a second chance to students to pursue their dream college and top choice through Early Decision II (ED II), which is also a binding agreement. ED II is an independent application process with its own deadlines. Once rejected on the ED I round, the student may also apply to another college under ED II. However, it is crucial to do your research on which colleges offer ED II and ensure that the college fits the student’s profile, academic goals and financial conditions before committing to the binding agreement. The ED II option is being offered by some good schools like Bates, Northeastern, Middlebury, NYU, Tufts, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Santa Clara and Lafayette, among others.
4. Some colleges may offer you admission in the spring semester.
Some colleges may offer admission to you in the spring semester instead of the fall based on space availability and the potential of the applicant. It is not a common occurrence and it lies entirely at the discretion of the concerned college. By and large, spring semester admissions are less common and you may stand a chance at it, if you are lucky. However, there may be some academic implications like limited course selection options or a slightly altered academic schedule.
5. Some colleges may offer you a chance at Early Action.
When not accepted under ED, some colleges may consider an applicant for Early Action (EA) allowing them to remain in the applicant pool. Early Action, unlike Early Decision, does not bind you to an agreement. No separate application process is required for EA in such cases. If students make it in the EA round, they receive an earlier decision, ahead of the regular decision round.
What is Early Action?
Early Action or EA is a non-binding college admission process wherein, students can apply to more than one college earlier than the regular application deadlines. EA applicants receive their admission decisions typically around December or January earlier than those who apply for Regular Decision. EA offers a balance between the benefits of early application and the flexibility of keeping your options open. It has its advantages as once accepted, the student is stress free and can plan better for college in terms of financial aid, housing etc.
P.S. You cannot directly apply to a college under Early Action (EA) if you have already been rejected for the college under ED in the same academic year.
General Dates and Guidelines
| Admission Round | Application Deadline | Decision Release |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | 1st to 15th November | Mid-December |
| Early Decision II | 1st to 15th January | Mid-February |
| Early Action | 1st to 15th November | Mid-December |
| Regular Decision | 1st January | Early April |
Please note – Deadlines and decision release dates vary between colleges. Check individual websites for specific dates.
Faced An Early Decision Rejection Recently?
Don’t let an Early Decision rejection derail your spirits. The counsellors at Ascend Now make you mentally tough to overcome this phase and provide invaluable support during this challenging time. Ascend Now specialises in services like university prep and planning, college admission essays, common app essays, research publications, passion project development in an area of your choice, internship acquisition etc. Our experts will re-evaluate your college list, identify areas for improvement, refine your application and offer comprehensive support throughout the admission process to boost your chances at university admissions.
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