Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Start Your Regular Decision Applications
Written by Amanda, University of Pennsylvania
Senior year can be an exciting time yet a stressful time, especially during college application season. If you’ve already submitted Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) applications, it might be tempting to wait for results before starting your Regular Decision (RD) applications. But this can leave you rushing at the last minute. Here’s why it’s important to start your RD applications early and how you can balance them with school and extracurriculars!
Avoid Last-Minute Stress
If you wait until you get your ED/EA results (usually in December), you’ll only have a few weeks to complete your RD applications before the January deadlines. This time is also packed with finals, holiday activities, and other responsibilities.
Tip: Start working on your Regular Decision applications now, even if you’re hoping for good news from an ED or EA school. Having them mostly ready will save you from stress later!
Submit Strong Applications
When you rush, your applications might need to be stronger. Rushed essays and incomplete details can hurt your chances of getting in, and admissions officers can tell when an application feels rushed or thrown together.
Tip: Set aside a little time each week to work on your Regular Decision applications. This gives you time to improve your essays and make sure everything looks polished!
Have a Backup Plan
Even if you applied ED or EA to your dream school, there’s a chance you might get deferred or rejected. If that happens, you don’t want to be left scrambling to complete your RD applications. Starting early gives you a solid backup plan so you’re not panicking if things don’t go the way you initially expected.
Tip: Start with RD schools that are more likely to accept you (safety and target schools). You can tweak applications for your reach schools later if needed!
Keep Up the Momentum
Once you’ve started working on applications, it’s much easier to keep going. If you stop to wait for ED/EA results, it can be challenging to get back into the swing of things later.
Tip: Use the work you’ve already done for ED/EA to help with your RD applications. Many essays and parts of your application can be reused or adapted, so you won’t be starting from scratch!
How to Balance Regular Decision Applications with School and Extracurriculars
1. Make a Schedule
Effective time management is key! Break your tasks into smaller parts and set deadlines for yourself, such as finishing one essay per week or completing different sections of the application on certain days. Using a planner or calendar, physical or digital, can help keep you on track!
2. Use Free Time Wisely
Take advantage of any free time you have during the day, such as study hall, free periods, or weekends, to work on your applications. Don’t wait until winter break when you’ll be busy or want to relax after a long semester!
3. Delegate When You Can
If you’re in charge of a club or other extracurricular activity/activities, try to share some of your responsibilities with others during application season. Be sure to communicate with your classmates about working on your college applications, and don't hesitate to politely ask them to take on some tasks. It’s okay to step back a bit to focus on your future!
4. Ask for Help
If you feel overwhelmed, it’s great to reach out to your teachers, friends, family, or anyone else who you trust and can help you through the application process. Sometimes, getting advice on time management or having someone read over your essay can make a huge difference. Don’t feel like you have to do everything alone!
5. Set Boundaries
It’s important to avoid burnout! If possible, decide ahead of time when you’ll stop working on applications each day. Make sure to carve out time for yourself, whether it's hanging out with friends, watching a movie, exercising, or doing an activity that helps you relax and unwind from the busy college application process!
Bottom Line: Start Early, Stay Calm!
Starting your Regular Decision applications early is the best way to ensure they’re done well and on time. It’ll give you more room to balance school and other activities, and you’ll be able to avoid last-minute stress. Don’t wait until the last minute; start now and make this process much easier for yourself!
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