Making the right choices for the right reasons 2018 Penncrest High School / College Night / Early Action & Early Decision Making the right choices for the right reasons

What types of application plans are available? Rolling Admissions – Colleges with rolling admissions evaluate applications as they are received. Schools will continue to consider applications until available slots are filled. Advantages of rolling admissions include: The process is quicker. Through rolling admissions students may receive a response within 4-6 weeks. A quicker response = less stress. By applying early in the school year students enjoy an advantage. Early applicants are not compared to a huge pool of applicants to follow. Rolling decisions are not binding. Students may have up until a designated deadline to decide whether or not they will attend a school. Schools that use rolling admissions: PA state universities- West Chester, Kutztown, Millersville et. al. PA state related universities – Temple, Penn State, Pittsburgh

Early Action Applications Apply early. Receive an admission decision early in the admission cycle (usually in December or January). Consider acceptance admits; students do not have to commit upon receipt. Students may apply to other colleges under regular admission plans. Provide the college of choice a decision no later than the May 1, the national response date.

Single Choice Early Action Students can apply early to only one college. Otherwise, these plans work the same as other early action plans. Students can still apply to other colleges through the regular admission process. Students are not required to identify a final choice for the early application until spring. Schools that offer SCEA- Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford

Early Decision Applications Apply early (usually in November 1 or 15) to first-choice college. Receive an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date (usually by December). Agree to attend the college if accepted and offered a financial aid package that is considered adequate by the family. Students may apply to only one college using an early decision plan. Students may apply to other colleges under regular admission plans. Students agree to withdraw all other applications if accepted by ED. Send a nonrefundable deposit well in advance of May 1.

Advantages of Early Decision For a student who has a definite first-choice college, applying early has many benefits besides possibly increasing the chance of getting in. Applying through Early Decision allows the student to: Reduce stress by cutting the time spent waiting for a decision. Save the time and expense of submitting multiple applications. Gain more time, once accepted, to look for housing and otherwise prepare for college. Reassess options and apply elsewhere if not accepted.

Who should apply using Early Decision? A student who has researched colleges extensively. A student who is absolutely sure that the chosen college is the first choice. Has found a college that is a strong match academically, socially and geographically. Meets or exceeds the admission profile for the college for SAT® scores, GPA and class rank. Has an academic record that has been consistently solid over time.

Early Decision may not be a fit for… A student who has not thoroughly researched colleges. A student who is applying early just to avoid stress and paperwork. A student who is not fully committed to attending the college. Is applying early only because friends are also applying. Needs a strong senior fall semester to bring grades up.

The Common Application and Early Decision The Common Application and some college application forms require the student applying under early decision, as well as the parent and counselor, to sign an ED agreement form spelling out the plan's conditions.

Evaluating the Early Decision acceptance rates 2018. College # Admitted # Applications Acceptance Rate Brown 538 3,170 18.88% Cornell 1,325 4,775 27.75% Dartmouth 469 1,678 27.95% Duke 861 3,516 24.5% Johns Hopkins 526 1,595 32.98% University of Pennsylvania 1,299 5,149 25.23%

Same School Comparison for Regular Admission College Regular admissions Brown 5.73% Cornell 8.34% Dartmouth 6.88% Duke 11% Johns Hopkins 18% University Pennsylvania 6.47%

Fast facts about Early Decision The University of Pennsylvania filled over half of the freshman class , through Early Decision. One in every seven admits was a student who is the first in the family to attend college. Early Decision applications at Penn have increased 28% in four years. Early Decision applications at Penn will form 61.46% of the incoming class Traditional deadlines for Early Decision applications are either November 1 or November 15 depending on the school. Students should verify deadlines with each school.

What if I am accepted under Early Decision and change my mind? The only acceptable circumstance under which to break the contract, according to NACAC, is the following: "Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment" (from NACAC's Statement of Principles).

A plan of attack for Early Decision / Early Action – Junior Year January–June Take college admission tests – SAT , SAT Subject Tests, ACT . Visit colleges during spring break, or the summer, if possible. Use Naviance and College Board to determine if the colleges you’re interested in offer an early decision or early action plan. Keep working hard and staying involved in extracurricular activities

Senior Year Planning / September - October Consult schools to determine their participation on the Common Application or Institutional Application. Some schools require or offer optional interviews. Investigate with colleges. (Penn, M.I.T.) Request letters of recommendation from your teachers, your counselor or other references. Complete and submit any early admission applications that are due in October. Some southern schools feature an October 15 Early Decision deadline. Take a college admission test if necessary. *Note Testing Requirements and Deadlines ****File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opens on October 1 ****Register for CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®, if necessary. Follow up with your references to make sure they have written and sent their letters of recommendation.

Senior Year Planning - November Submit any early applications due in November by the college deadline. Follow up with any remaining references to make sure they have written and sent their letters of recommendation. Complete and submit regular-decision applications. (If you’re not accepted through an early admission program, you’ll be glad you have a backup plan.) File the CSS/Financial Aid Profile and all other required financial aid forms. Review all requirements and deadlines for financial aid applications and get all your documentation ready to send when requested.

Building an application menu Once you have a list of colleges you think you will be satisfied attending, sort it into three categories: Safeties: These are colleges that you feel you have a very good chance of getting into and that you think you can afford to attend. They should also be colleges you would be happy to attend. ( One or two colleges ) Good matches: These are colleges that you feel you have a good chance of getting into and that are good matches for you overall. ( two to four colleges ) Reaches: These are colleges that you think may be more of a challenge to get into. Getting in is not a sure thing, but it’s realistic enough to be worth the effort of applying. ( one or two colleges )

A menu for college applications One Early Decision I application / possible “reach” school Consider Early Action applications Apply to several rolling admissions schools Consider an Early Decision II or Early Action II school (due date January 1), plan to respond after mid-December admissions decisions