8 Types of College Admissions (And Which One Is Good for You)

One of the most important things to decide when applying for college is how you are going to apply. Yes, you read that right; how. Colleges offer application options other than regular admission. In fact, there are 8 types of different college admissions. 

Read on to find out about application options such as rolling admission, early decision, and early action. We’ll also tell you when you should use each one. 

Regular Admission

Regular Admission, as it sounds, is the standard way that students apply to college. There is a set application deadline that usually falls between November and January. After the deadline, the admissions committee reviews all applications together. They send offers at the end of March or the beginning of April. Students usually have until May to commit to a school.

Who should apply for regular admission? Regular admission is great for students who want to apply to several schools. The flexibility allows them to see where they get accepted before making a decision. 

Rolling Admission

Colleges that use rolling admission to accept students on a first-come-first-serve basis. There is no application deadline. Instead, the college accepts applications and sends out offers on a rolling basis. The application window falls between September to July. The window closes once the college has filled all spaces in the incoming freshman class. With rolling admission, students hear back within 2-6 weeks of submitting their application.

Although there is no set deadline, it’s preferable to apply early. As time goes on there are fewer spaces available for students. Students may also have fewer opportunities to get financial aid.

Who should apply for rolling admission? Rolling admission is great for students who don’t want to feel rushed to submit their applications. As we mentioned, students have until July to submit their applications. This gives them plenty of time to work on applications. 

Another great reason to apply for rolling admission is because it is non-binding. This means that students who are accepted to a college do not need to accept the offer. This type of admission allows students to take their time deciding where they want to go to school.

Open Admission

With open admission, colleges accept all students regardless of their grades. A student only needs a high school diploma or GED to get admitted. Colleges accept students until the incoming class is full. Most two-year community colleges have an open admissions policy. Keep in mind that there might be other requirements for specific programs you apply to.

Who should apply to schools with open admission? Open admission is great for students who don’t have competitive academic records. It’s also good for students who would like to save money on tuition, or live at home and go to college nearby or online.

Early College Admission

Early admission is an umbrella term for a few kinds of admission options that are each a little different from one another.  Many colleges allow students to apply for early admission. When a student applies for early admission, a college considers their application before students who apply for regular admission. 

Who should apply for early admission? An early admission is a great option for students who have a dream college they’d like to attend. Applying for early admission does often come with serious commitments, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you apply.

The following are different early admission policies that a college may offer:

Early Decision (ED)

When you think of applying early to a college, early decision is often what comes to mind. Early decision allows students to apply to their top-choice college before the regular deadline. The deadline for early decision applications is usually between November 1 and November 15. Colleges admit students earlier and send out offer letters by mid-December.

Early decision is the most strict way to apply early to a college. Admission is binding. This means that students who are accepted must attend that school. They must withdraw applications to other schools. It is only possible to apply to one college with the early decision option.

Some colleges offer an Early Decision (ED) II option. This allows students to apply later than the regular ED plan. The deadline is usually in early January. Colleges send out decisions for ED II around mid-February.

Who should apply for an early decision? Students who are dead-set on going to a specific college may consider applying for early decisions. Make sure you are okay with the financial aid package that the school offers. While getting out of your commitment to a school may be possible with a good reason, it’s unlikely that you’ll get into another competitive school.

Early Action

Early action is a less restrictive option for students seeking to apply early. Students who apply for early action hear back before students who apply for regular admission. Unlike early decisions, their commitment to the school is not binding. Students can decline offers. They are also allowed to apply to other schools. Some colleges offer an early action II option which allows them to apply a little later than the first early action deadline.

Who should apply early action? This can be great for students who want to weigh out all their options before making a decision. Applying early action gives students more time to decide between schools. It also gives them time to hear back about different financial aid packages and apply for scholarships.

Single-Choice Early Action

Single-Choice Early Action, or restrictive early action is non-binding. This means that students are not required to attend if accepted. The only limitation of this option is that students aren’t allowed to apply to other schools during the early action period, which is usually between October 15-November 15. Students can apply normally again when this period ends. Students have until May to decide whether they’d like to accept the offer.

Who should apply single-choice early action? This uncommon option pretty much exists only at the Ivy League level. If you are not one hundred percent sure about going to a certain college, applying single-choice early action could be a good middle-ground for you. If you are accepted, you have until the spring to decide whether you want to attend. This will give you time to apply to other schools during the regular admission process.

Deferred Admission

Deferred Admission allows students to postpone their enrollment in college. Usually, they can postpone admission for up to one year.

Who should defer admission? Deferring admission can be a great option if you’d like to take a gap year. If you are interested in this option, you’ll apply to college and get accepted before you start your gap year. You will also have to submit your enrollment deposit. 

Not all schools offer deferred admission and your school may deny your gap year request. If this is the case, you’ll need to make a decision. You can either take the gap year and apply again to the college later on, or you can decide you’d rather enroll in college now instead. If you are set on taking a gap year, make sure to apply to colleges that offer deferred admission. If you’ve received financial aid check whether it will still be valid a year from now.

Final Thoughts

Colleges offer many different admissions options. One may work better for you than another. Whichever admissions option you choose, be sure that you apply by the deadline. We’ve mentioned general deadlines for you here, but every college may be different.

We also recommend submitting your applications as early as possible. This gives you a better chance of getting in and increases your chances of getting scholarships.