You Must Know The Early Bird Menu Before Applying to College
Most families confuse Early Admission, Early Read, Early Decision, Early Action and Early Notification. Learning these and other admissions tactics will determine the cost and location of your student's college years.
Early Admission: Typically, the student applies at the beginning of the junior year and goes through the entire process earlier. However, Early Admission is seldom used, as it only applies to the most exceptional students who complete all high school requirements any time prior to the 12th grade. It is strongly recommend that the student demonstrate a college level of social and emotional maturity before implementing this strategy. Schools often get into a bidding contest for the truly exceptional student, some offering full scholarships for the privilege of having such an accomplished young man or woman. Use with caution!
Early Read: Many colleges offer to calculate your EFC, (expected family contribution; the minimum the federal government determines your family will pay for college). Without obligating the student to apply, simply send them all your financial information at the beginning of the 12th grade. If the student eventually applies, the aid offer has already been predetermined. Surely, you wouldn't want the IRS to calculate your taxes, so why let a college determine your EFC? Avoid this at all costs!
Early Decision: A program with earlier deadlines and notification dates than regular decision. Students sign a binding contract and commit to attending that school. If accepted, they must immediately notify all other schools to withdraw their applications. If money is not an issue, Early Decision is highly recommended, because it will give the student a decided advantage in the admissions process. However, if financial aid is an issue, beware, for the student must attend that college regardless of financial aid offered. While Early Decision adds some leverage for acceptance, devastating financial consequences can result as an inadequate financial aid package must be accepted. Always recommended at Princeton, as they no longer offer loans. Use with extreme caution!
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Early Decision II: Virtually identical to Early Decision, but with later deadlines, usually January 1st. As with Early Decision, only one school can be applied to. Same as Early Decision.
Early Action: All students are encouraged to apply for Early Action, usually September 15th to January 1st. Because of fierce competition, the sooner a student applies the better. For the barely qualified student, this is the only way to go. Such a student would not fare well in the general applicant pool, as they would be competing against far too many honor students and would pale by comparison. Also, any grades beyond mid-term may not count. Always implement this strategy.
Early Notification: Similar to Early Action, except some schools ask for a financial aid commitment well in advance of the traditional May 1st deadline. Unless they make you an offer you can't refuse, ask them to extend their deadline so your family can consider all offers. Families are advised against trying to negotiation for more aid, because you're at a serious disadvantage with no other offers to compare. Avoid this like the plague.
Open Admissions: Some four-year, most two-year and virtually all community colleges offer admission on a come-as-you-are basis. If they have room you're admitted. Always Implement.
Rolling Admissions: A most advantageous policy, as colleges will notify students within a few weeks of receiving all necessary application documents. They usually accept until such time as their quotas have been satisfied. Always Implement.
Reecy Aresty, a financial advisor since 1977, is the author of Getting Into College And Paying For It, an indispensable parent/student manual, the only book of its kind available in Spanish. For the past 25 years he's helped thousands of families send their kids to the college of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible. His book is guaranteed to give students that all-important edge in admissions, and for parents there are numerous legal strategies to drastically cut the cost of college. Go to www.paylessforcollege.com for a free report, The College Funding Timeline, and learn what parents, students, and the media are saying about Reecy and his book for all seasons.
