Knowing when to submit college applications is extremely important. For many colleges and universities, the final application deadline is absolute, and your application won't even be considered if it's late. However, by understanding how the undergraduate admissions process works and following our application schedules, you should be able to apply for admission right on time.
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Whether you're a high school student headed for your first year of college, a transfer student changing schools, or an adult returning to college after some time in the workforce, you'll need to determine when to start submitting applications for the school or schools you'd like to attend. But first, it's useful to establish which of the following college admissions formats each school follows.
If your college search has led you to select a prestigious or competitive college, you should understand that many of them have a lower acceptance rate, which means they admit only a small percentage of the applicants who submit apps each year. To be accepted at a school using the regular admissions format, you'll need to demonstrate academic achievement, including a reasonably high GPA and good scores on college entrance exams, like the SAT and ACT, along with active participation in extracurricular activities, such as sports and clubs.
Competitive colleges usually follow a regular admissions format, and they set a deadline when all applications are due. At most of these schools, you can submit your application as early as August or September, but the application deadline usually falls sometime between November and February, preceding the fall semester when you intend to start. Because of these variables, it's essential for you to check each school's website for the exact date.
Admissions counselors then review all of the applications and notify all applicants of their admissions decisions simultaneously, usually around March 1.
Approximately 900 regular admission schools use a universal application system known as the Common Application. This system has its own deadlines, which may vary slightly from year to year, but in general, the Common App opens on August 1 of the preceding year and closes on January 1 of the same year in which students will start classes in the fall. A similar system, called the Coalition Application , allows students to create their profiles anytime and submit their applications according to each school's deadline.
Some of the most competitive schools offer early admission formats, and prospective students who already have a high GPA and standardized test scores may want to consider using this option. The acceptance rate tends to be slightly higher than average because, generally speaking, only well-prepared applicants use this option. However, the downside is that you will not receive a financial aid offer until the following spring, which may affect your ability to attend the school.
There are two main types of early admissions enrollment, although some schools offer other early formats that may be binding or nonbinding. You'll need to prepare your applications in August and September because the deadlines are set somewhat early in the fall semester. Accepted applicants are usually notified in December. Here again, you should check each school's website for the exact application deadline and application terms if you intend to apply early:
Some schools are less competitive than others and have higher acceptance rates. Many of these schools use a rolling admission format and often have a broader timeframe for accepting applications. Most of these institutions start accepting applications as early as the September preceding the fall semester when students will start attending the school, and the application timeframe may remain open through the spring, perhaps five months or so prior to the start of the new school year.
Under the rolling admission format, admissions officers review applications as they're received, and they inform applicants of acceptance decisions on an ongoing basis as they're made. However, once an individual program is filled, the school cannot accept any additional applicants until the following year. Therefore, if you plan to attend a school with rolling admissions, you may want to submit your application earlier, rather than later, to secure a spot in the program of your choice.
There are also some schools with very high acceptance rates that admit nearly all applicants, as long as they have a high school diploma or its equivalent. These inclusive schools, which include community colleges and some four-year universities, often follow an open admission format. The application form is typically simple to fill out, and you can usually register up to 30 days before a new semester begins or possibly even closer to the school start date.
To help prospective students make more informed college decisions, we've created guides for LGBTQ+, Latinx, Black, underrepresented , and undocumented students.
You may be wondering when college applications open for fall 2024. The following timeline provides a general overview of the college admissions process, so you may also want to consult the Submission Checklist below for more details.
Fall 2022-Spring 2022Now's the time for high school seniors, students considering transferring schools, and returning adults to start the college research process. In addition to reviewing schools, programs, and majors, you may want to consider whether you should go to college on campus or online. If you'd prefer to have a traditional college experience, you'll want to schedule campus visits during this period, too.
Spring 2023-Summer 2023Once you've researched schools and narrowed your list of choices, you should pull together the materials you'll need to complete your applications and start writing your personal essays.
August 2023-September 2023If any of the schools on your list are highly competitive, you may want to consider submitting an early application. Be sure to research early decision, early action, and early evaluation enrollment options before submitting your application.
November 2023-March 2024Most colleges and universities that practice regular admissions accept submissions in the earlier part of this period, while colleges with rolling admissions may accept applications as late as March or possibly even April. You have even more time to submit your application to schools that practice open enrollment.
All college-bound individuals can use this checklist to stay on track for submitting college applications for the typical fall start date. In general, the deadlines remain the same whether you plan to earn your degree online or on campus.
Research all of your college options, including studying rankings lists of affordable options, nonprofit online colleges, military-friendly schools, and the most popular schools. Look at each school's admissions standards, programs, faculty, resources, and any other relevant factors to ensure you're applying to schools that are a good fit. Use OnlineU's request forms — accessed by clicking on a school in a rankings list — to request more information directly from the schools of your choice, and ask your school counselor for input on this stage as well.
Take your college entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT, as early as possible to allow time to retake them if you need to.
Extend your college search by completing a few campus visits to determine whether you truly want to attend a certain school in person.
