If you’re anything like I was in high school, you look at early action deadlines like near impossibilities—deadlines attainable only by the type-A, agenda-toting, “punctualites.” You and I know them as those people who’re writing papers two weeks before they’re due rather than the night before. In fact, I’d bet the only discernable difference you can distinguish between early action and regular decision is two months of delicious procrastination, which means there’s no way you’ll be convinced to get your application submitted before February 1st.
Well, recent statistics have put you (and me) in the position of second guessing our logic. According to a U.S. News and World Report list that names the top schools in which applying early action helps, you apparently have an 18% better chance of getting into Centre by applying early action rather than regular decision.
On the face of things, the list makes sense. But before you hastily scrounge up your application materials, let’s assess U.S. News’ reductive reasoning. If you ask any admission counselor at Centre, “Does applying early action benefit my chances of getting in or receiving financial aid?” They would tell you emphatically, “No.” The reason? We’re looking for a certain type of student, and applying early isn’t one of our criteria.
“But wait,” you might say, “U.S. News says that 80.7% of early action applicants get in to Centre while only 62.8% get in regular decision.” If we’re looking for cause and effect relationships, the obvious one suggests the chances of you getting in are better if you apply early.
Here’s the rub: when we’re making our decisions, both in December and February, we’re looking for the same type of people. It just so happens that we want intelligent, proactive, and strong-minded students on campus…traits not uncommon to type-A, agenda-toting, “punctualites.” Get it?
(No offense to you Type-A’s, by the way, we really do appreciate your punctuality…a lot.)
See, you thought I was going to admonish the procrastinators, but really I wanted to ease their nerves. Though, I suppose it’s sort of a lost cause; procrastinators are traditionally pretty laid back—sometimes to a fault.
Look, we obviously want you to apply early, but more importantly, we simply want you to apply, period. So, do so on your own terms and in a manner that will produce the best application possible. If that means touring campuses through December and then deciding which colleges to apply to in January, then that’s fine. In fact, that’s a solid strategy as far as we’re concerned.
So, good luck, and we’ll look forward to seeing your applications when they’re ready.
