Time for a vocabulary lesson. Let’s take the opportunity to look at some words and confusing terminology that are frequently used in the college admission process and make sure we understand exactly what they mean to both the colleges and the students.
Let’s begin with early action. This term refers to the time or deadline by which a student applies to a college. It’s sort of like an early bird sale at a store--come in before 8am and get an extra 20% off. In this case, the college is saying apply before a specific date and we’ll evaluate you ahead of the masses who will be applying later, and perhaps more generously. If a student is accepted under early action, and this is important, they are not bound to attend that school.
That is not true of early decision. ED, as it often called, works similarly to Early Action. It’s kind of an early bird sale on admissions and students must apply by a defined and early date. The biggest difference here is that if a college chooses to admit you under their early decision time frame, you are bound to attend that school. Therefore, it should go without saying that students who apply under ED should be certain they actually want to go to that school and you can only apply to one college as ED. If ED is not your thing and you are not ready to commit, you should apply under the college’s regular decision deadline.
When students hear back about their college applications, there are some other important terms to understand. If you are admitted, you’re in. Good job. If you are denied, you’re out. Sorry. These are the black and white decisions and are easy to understand. However, decisions are often not this straightforward. Some students will be waitlisted. This means that the college has fully evaluated the student but is not ready to admit them. Waitlisted students are in college admissions purgatory. They have neither been denied or admitted. Most colleges who waitlist almost always do come back and admit some students from their waitlist, but that is not guaranteed and some colleges will place thousands of students on their waitlist. Actually, some see this as a nefarious practice, but we’ll talk about that at another time. If you receive a waitlist status at a school you are interested in, it is very important that you continue to explore other options.
Some colleges might defer students instead. In most cases, this means that the college is not ready to make a full evaluation of you. If you are applying early action or early decision they might push you into their regular decision pool and evaluate you then or they might wait until they have additional information such as first semester grades or updated test scores. In either case, deferment is the college’s way of saying, “Hmmm. we’re not so sure about you yet. We want to think about you a little longer.” Whereas waitlisting is a college’s way of saying, “We know we like all these other people more than you, but if they don’t like us and go elsewhere, I guess we might settle for you later.” Maybe, that’s not the warmest sentiment ever, but at least now you know what these terms mean.
Let’s begin with early action. This term refers to the time or deadline by which a student applies to a college. It’s sort of like an early bird sale at a store--come in before 8am and get an extra 20% off. In this case, the college is saying apply before a specific date and we’ll evaluate you ahead of the masses who will be applying later, and perhaps more generously. If a student is accepted under early action, and this is important, they are not bound to attend that school.
That is not true of early decision. ED, as it often called, works similarly to Early Action. It’s kind of an early bird sale on admissions and students must apply by a defined and early date. The biggest difference here is that if a college chooses to admit you under their early decision time frame, you are bound to attend that school. Therefore, it should go without saying that students who apply under ED should be certain they actually want to go to that school and you can only apply to one college as ED. If ED is not your thing and you are not ready to commit, you should apply under the college’s regular decision deadline.
When students hear back about their college applications, there are some other important terms to understand. If you are admitted, you’re in. Good job. If you are denied, you’re out. Sorry. These are the black and white decisions and are easy to understand. However, decisions are often not this straightforward. Some students will be waitlisted. This means that the college has fully evaluated the student but is not ready to admit them. Waitlisted students are in college admissions purgatory. They have neither been denied or admitted. Most colleges who waitlist almost always do come back and admit some students from their waitlist, but that is not guaranteed and some colleges will place thousands of students on their waitlist. Actually, some see this as a nefarious practice, but we’ll talk about that at another time. If you receive a waitlist status at a school you are interested in, it is very important that you continue to explore other options.
Some colleges might defer students instead. In most cases, this means that the college is not ready to make a full evaluation of you. If you are applying early action or early decision they might push you into their regular decision pool and evaluate you then or they might wait until they have additional information such as first semester grades or updated test scores. In either case, deferment is the college’s way of saying, “Hmmm. we’re not so sure about you yet. We want to think about you a little longer.” Whereas waitlisting is a college’s way of saying, “We know we like all these other people more than you, but if they don’t like us and go elsewhere, I guess we might settle for you later.” Maybe, that’s not the warmest sentiment ever, but at least now you know what these terms mean.
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