This is the option the majority of students choose, as there are no restrictions as to how many colleges they can apply to and are not bound to attend a specific one just because they were accepted first. While the application submission deadlines will vary between institutions, Regular Decision deadlines typically fall in early January, and offers of admission are sent out in late March or early April.  These students will have until May 1 to either accept or decline their offers, and each student is only permitted to submit a matriculation fee (or fee waiver) to one of the institutions to which they have been admitted.

If you apply regular decision, there are three possible outcomes for your admission decision. We will either:

• Offer admission.
• Deny admission.
• Or, offer you a spot on the Wait List.

Regular Decision Pros

Those applying Regular Decision will have a later deadline to submit their application (typically anywhere from early December to late January). This may be the best option for you if you are planning on retaking the ACT or SAT for a higher score to increase your chances of being accepted or to be eligible for more scholarships. Applying Regular Decision also gives one more time to perfect those college essays. Choosing to apply Regular Decision can give you more time to discover what you want to study too, especially if you are on the fence between a few majors—though you also have the option to apply as undecided and explore your options in college.

Regular Decision Cons

If applying Regular Decision, you may not hear back from the college/university until the spring or at the end of the school year. This may make graduation season a bit more hectic as you realize you will be packing your bags to head off somewhere in roughly three months. Making the decision of where to attend college in late spring could potentially add to the stress of AP exams and finals as well.