More times than I care to recall, I’ve heard enthusiastic students exclaim, “I know I’m applying early …I just don’t know where yet.” Talk about putting the cart before the horse. Application season is upon us, and high school seniors across the globe are preparing to submit applications to college, and many of them will be filed under some type of “early” program. Applications can be filed early decision, which is binding, or early action, which is non-binding. So, what’s all the fuss about early? Well, I can think of two things that jump out about early programs that are extremely attractive to students and generate a lot of fervor in the college search process at Tabor. The first is preference in the admission selection process, either real or perceived, it doesn’t really matter. The second is simply arriving at the finish line, something not to be overlooked in the wake of an extensive search. College search fatigue is real and many students feel a remarkable sense of relief when their first applications are finally submitted.
To put things into some perspective and offer a sense of scale, consider these facts: twenty years ago, less than 50% of Tabor students applied early; today that number is 85%. And the percentage of Tabor students offered admission through an early program remains considerably higher than those that apply regular. Is this added success solely because they apply early? That’s a difficult question to answer, but there’s little doubt that applying early adds some advantage to the admission equation. I don’t hear many admission officers talking about the pitfalls of applying early when they’re marketing their colleges. When I worked in college admission, we were never bashful about informing a student of the advantages of applying early. With many colleges enrolling disproportionate percentages of their first year class through early programs, and doing so at considerably higher admit rates than for applicants in the regular decision pool, it’s nearly impossible to come to any other conclusion than one that suggests a student’s chances for admission are better as an early candidate. This is tough to dispute, though some colleges will attempt to do so, often finessing some language and data in an attempt to demonstrate that it’s not really “easier” to gain admission as an early candidate. Most people, college counselors included, respond to this type of obfuscation with something cynical along the lines of pfffffft -- insert eye roll emoji here.
To be fair, though, filing early is not for everyone. Some students are not yet ready to make an early decision commitment, and should not feel compelled to do so unless it’s the right fit for them. Some students will also benefit from applying through regular decision programs in order to show colleges stronger and more consistent grades sustained throughout an entire semester of senior year classes. Financial circumstances may also impact whether a student applies early decision as some families need to compare financial aid packages. At Tabor, we have a comprehensive college counseling program in place to support students and their families, providing a certain level of comfort and confidence in knowing that they will be prepared to make informed and strategic decisions about filing any early applications in the fall of senior year. Early application filing is something we discuss extensively with our students and we consider all the possible permutations of pursuing such options, and always do so with the best interests of our students in mind.
