Is there a list of colleges that allow students to apply early decision any time after completion of your junior year? My guidance counselor told me that Wake Forest practices this but she wasn’t aware of any others.
@Luska19 – Very many colleges offer Early Decision. Check each college’s website. Early Decision involves a binding commitment; you agree to withdraw all other applications if you are accepted, and in exchange, they let you know early- usually in December. You need to apply by an earlier deadline (usually in early November), and you, your parent, and your guidance counselor all sign a contract saying you will attend if you are admitted.
Some colleges offer Early Action instead. With Early Action, it is not binding; you find out in December but you have until May 1st to decide and can end up picking another college if you want.
Every college’s policy on Early Decision or Early Action will be explained on their website.
Most colleges offer one or the other. Every single college my son looked at (and we visited 21 colleges and researched many more!) offered either ED or EA, more often Early Decision.
Edit:
I just looked up Wake Forest and see they release early decisions on a rolling basis, so perhaps the earlier part of my answer was already known to you. If you mean rolling admissions, that will also be on websites, and seems to be more common at state schools. Prepscholar’s blog has a list of schools that offer rolling admissions.
Are you asking for schools that release decisions on a rolling basis?
@gardenstategal No, I’m asking what other schools allow you to apply early decision(usually November as @TheGreyKing mentioned above) as soon as you graduate in May.
WF looks to be rolling for ED but most schools will give you an answer on a ED1 application by December so I don’t see the huge deal. In any event, many high schools don’t even have transcripts ready to send to college until sometime in the fall (our HS didn’t have them prepared until October).
You can only apply to one school ED so base your decision of if and where to use the ED more on the right fit and expected affordability rather than when you can apply as soon as you graduate.
@happy1 I’m not sure I understand why they can’t send the transcripts earlier. My counselor has already sent my transcripts from last year in 10th grade that a college requested. I understand about the ED and WF wouldn’t be my first choice but I curious to see if there are other schools that have the same policy. If so and it was a #1 choice than it would speed up the process of having to get teacher recommendations, test scores, essay and transcripts ready.
In our HS the college transcripts are not checked and available to be sent by the guidance dept until early October. Of course different high schools operate differently. But I just don’t understand what all that rushing around will get you. You don’t want teachers to rush through their recommendations (although it is good practice to get those lined up by the end of your junior year). FWIW most schools have ED1 deadlines in mid-November or so although you can send them in earlier. You can still send test scores and have your essays prepared over the summer.