By: Noor Abdullah, Opinions Editor
For the class of 2024, college applications are in full swing. From drafting perfectly curated personal statements to accurately reporting every class and exam grade received within the last four years, a lot of time and thought goes into a college application before it’s ready to submit. All of these tasks are completed under fast-approaching application deadlines. These deadlines range from early fall to late spring of students’ senior year depending on various factors, but what is the need for different deadlines and how do students decide which deadlines to adhere to?
The first deadlines that come around are called “early decision” and “priority” deadlines which are offered by various public and private colleges. Early decision is advantageous for students who have thoroughly researched a college and decided that the programs offered fit their interests,campus, and location preferences. For some colleges, applying for early decision binds accepted applicants to attend that school, and consequently turn down other colleges that may accept them.
Chloe Ho (12) applied to Stanford– her dream university- restrictive early action, aka early decision unplanned as she completed her application early. “Ultimately, it’s a school I really want to go to and generally those sorts of committing deadlines tend to give you a slightly higher chance of getting in- not by a very large margin but nonetheless a difference,” Ho shared. Completing her applications earlier in the year, even when she wasn’t applying for an early decision, she didn’t feel as stressed and took her time on her essays. Ho recommends applying early action only if students have a very strong affinity for a certain school.
William Walz (12), a competitive swimmer for the Burlingame Aquatics Club, shared a different perspective on seniors applying to colleges early. Student athletes looking to join a college’s sports team tend to begin applying as early as their Junior year. They apply for a spot on the team, rather than simply to the college, by showcasing great skill within their sport and grades that meet the college’s standards. Walz accepted a spot on Pomona College’s swim team, and is planning on swimming for them throughout his four years at the college. He explained: “Committing to a roster spot on the Pomona swim team essentially guarantees that I get into the school, as Pomona Admissions is notified that I’m an athlete, and I get a likely letter.”
While there are various opportunities for students to apply earlier to colleges, a majority of seniors at Mills apply for regular decision. Both application processes have their advantages. The later deadlines grant applicants more time to consider different colleges and programs, as well as to complete the various parts of the application.
On the other hand, applying earlier also means receiving news of an acceptance earlier. This provides students with more time to plan out where they will go for the future, find housing if needed, register first-choice for classes, and emotionally come to terms with this drastic change in their lives.
Walz shared advice for student athletes saying, “Personally, it was easy to get caught up in the pressure of committing to a college as early as the beginning of my junior year, as many of my friends had begun the process at that time already. Seeing other people commit made me want to do the same, but I had to remind myself that it’s a big decision to make. It’s important to visit the school and make sure that you like the campus, people, food, dorms, etc.—you’ll be spending the next four years at that school.”
