Understanding the Application

Parts of An Application

• Online Application Form (including Essay responses, Short-Answer responses, Supplemental Questions, and Extracurricular Activities) 

• Residency Determination Service (ncresidency.org)

• Transcript (showing gpa & class rank)

• ACT/SAT Test Scores (if applicable)

• Letter(s) of Recommendation, if applicable

• Paid Application Fee or Fee Waiver

• Extenuating Circumstances (if applicable) 

• Completed FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Application Deadlines, Explained

Early Action - If you submit your application by this date, you will receive an admissions decision from that college sooner (typically in December).  Early Action deadlines can vary at each school, but are typically in mid-October or early November. This gives many students & families reassurance by receiving an acceptance early on OR allows families more time to change their game plan and apply to additional schools if not accepted to top choices.

Early Decision - This type of deadline (usually in November) is “binding” which means you must attend this school if they choose to accept you.  Students may only make this commitment to 1 school and must withdraw all other applications if accepted by this school.  Choosing this shows your commitment to the school which makes you a more appealing applicant, but students often receive less comparable financial aid packages if accepted.  You may deny an Early Decision acceptance if the school does not meet your demonstrated financial need, but the key word here is "Decision"...you are making the decision to commit to this school if they accept you without hearing from any other schools.

Priority Deadline - This is yet another type of early deadline.  Many colleges will specify that you must apply by this deadline to have priority consideration for admission to a specific program (honors college, certain majors, etc.), scholarships, and/or other forms of financial aid.

Regular Decision - This type of deadline is typically in January for most schools.  This is the last deadline to apply to a school.  Applying Regular Decision may be a good fit for you if you need more time to work on your college application material and/or need to show your 1st semester senior year grades to strengthen your application. 

Rolling Admission - If a school offers “rolling admissions”, you may apply to this school at any time during their listed application window. Acceptances are usually granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Rolling Admissions does NOT mean that you should procrastinate, especially if you want to be considered for merit or financial aid.

Admissions Decisions, Explained

It's not always a yes or no.

Admitted = You're in! Pay your deposit to secure your spot.

Deferred = Your application will be reviewed again with the regular decision applicants. 

Waitlisted = You have been offered a spot on the college's waitlist and will be notified over the summer IF a spot opens up for you. Depending on the school, it can be rare to get a spot from off the waitlist, so you should make plans to attend your next choice school.

Denied = Your application did not meet the school's qualifications for admission. This can be a numbers game, especially within the context of the other applicants of the incoming class. You can re-apply as a transfer student. Continue your college search to find the right fit for you!