Find Your Perfect Program:
Does Applying Early Mean a Better Chance of Acceptance?
By Catherine Groux
Posted February 14, 2012 04:17 PM
Every year, many bachelor's degree seekers opt to apply to their chosen schools under early action programs. In doing so, students are allowed to apply to colleges a few months early, usually in November, but do not need to agree to attend that school if they are accepted.
According to a 2011 report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, more students are applying under early action programs than ever before. Currently, about 72% of colleges say they have seen an increase in the number of early action applications they receive. Additionally, 68% of schools reported growth in the number of students they admit under early action plans.
Still,
Experts say early action may lead to a higher chance of acceptance. while many students opt to apply to schools early, some wonder whether or not doing so actually gives them a better chance of being accepted to the college. According to CollegeBoard, applying early can be helpful for degree seekers and sometimes it does mean that they have a greater chance of acceptance than they would through the regular admissions process.
Recent statistics in The New York Times mirrors this conclusion. The article shows that in 2012, about 52.6% of students were accepted to Massachusetts' Boston University. However, according to CollegeBoard, among students who apply to the school under a general admissions plan, about 49% are accepted.
A similar conclusion can be drawn from data from Rhode Island's Brown University. This year, about 19% of students who applied to the Ivy League school under early admissions were accepted. This is significantly higher than the 9% of degree seekers who are accepted to the school through general admissions, CollegeBoard reports.
Chris Avery, a professor at Harvard University and co-author of the book The Early Admissions Game, told NPR that if students are applying to selective schools like Brown, applying early may be in their best interest.
"If you know exactly where you want to go, it will help your admissions chances to apply early," Avery said.
Still, NPR reports that students should be cautious when deciding whether or not to apply early. Doing so may give them more stress during the college application process, which could mean they are putting too much effort into their applications and not enough on succeeding in their high school courses. Additionally, since many students who apply under early action know if they have been accepted to their college in December, it is tempting for them to slack off during the rest of their senior year.
