Do you have a better chance of getting admitted if you apply early decision?

If you are an excellent student – probably yes.  There are many reasons for this

1. applicant pool is smaller
2. space availability is not a consideration – as is the case with regular decision
3. admissions officers know you will come if admitted
4. colleges generally will reach one of three decisions.  They will admit you, defer your application to the regular admissions cycle, or deny your application.

Reasons to apply early

1. You love the college;  it’s your top choice, and no other college will do.
2. You promise to attend if admitted.
3. You get the process finished early in the game.
4. The college knows it’s your first choice so they may reward you for that.

Caution

Early decision is a legally binding contract.  You cannot apply elsewhere Early decision, and you must withdraw all other applications if accepted.

You may change your mind – many do.

You won’t be able to compare fin aid offers.   Some people want to get the best possible deal. For others a good deal is good enough. Let’s put it another way:  How do you feel when you buy an outfit which is a good bargain at $100 and you find out later you could have purchased the item for $20? If that doesn’t bother you, okay, maybe early decision is for you. But if you would be upset and stew about it for weeks, maybe you should reconsider applying to college early.  Great variance in fin aid offers (I’ve seen spreads as large as $127,000 over 4 years.)

If you think your 1st or 2nd quarter grades might be outstanding and you can qualify for a more selective university, you might want to apply regular decision.

Homeschooling is one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children.

In fact, homeschooling is absolutely one of the best academic advantages parents can give their children.

Homeschooled families enjoy maximum flexibility, superior academic achievement, and the educational freedom to study whatever they want, wherever they want, whenever they want. Now that’s exciting and empowering.

I homeschooled my children starting in the mid-1970’s when virtually no one knew a thing about the subject.

It was a tremendous benefit to our family. Of course, improved academic achievement is not the only reason to homeschool, but it is a very compelling reason. Most homeschoolers test years ahead of their non-homeschooled cohort.

As a former teacher, I know how much time is eaten up in the traditional school environment. A great deal of time is spent in preparation for teaching. Getting in line, walking to class, waiting for the class to settle down, handling discipline problems, talking with parents and others who drop in unexpectedly all take time away from the instructional process. A homeschooler doesn’t have to deal with that.
As families are seeking every possible method of getting their children admitted to their top choice colleges, I think they should carefully consider the benefits of homeschooling.

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Yvette O., newspaper reporter:

When I sought out Mrs. Arnold, my goal was to have my son achieve the highest possible score on the SAT. At the time, I knew that strong scores translated into scholarship money and acceptance to the schools of our choice.  Mrs. Arnold came highly recommended by others who had used her. She did not disappoint.

For starters, she had my son take an SAT Prep Test, which she scored. This established a benchmark, gave us a sense of where he was, allowed us to identify weaknesses and set realistic goals for gains we hoped to see in the scores. My bottom line was increasing the scores and this was my barometer for measuring success. The first time around, my son scored almost exactly where the test administered by Mrs. Arnold showed he would. The second time around, after coaching by Mrs. Arnold, his scores jumped about 100 points in each area.

As a result, we received scholarship offers. More importantly, Mrs. Arnold’s efforts have had a visible impact on my son’s success at Morehouse College, where he is majoring in finance and has been nominated for and accepted into the National Honor Society.

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Now let’s look at how you might handle some issues you will deal with as a homeschooled applicant.:

• Letters of Recommendation from people outside of family who know you well, and like you

• Clergy, employers, teacher in outside course [art, music, foreign language]

• Write great essay

• Great standardized test scores – usually not a problem

• On-campus interview to detail your academic program and history

• College tour
• Sit with admissions officers

• Colleges love home-schooled

For more information on homeschooling and the college admissions process, I invite you to purchase my ebook, College Admissions 411!: Your Guide to Getting Accepted. It has much more detail about homeschooling as it relates to academic achievement and college acceptance.  I even have a section on how to homeschool on a shoestring budget and tips on how to pay for college.

Now, let’s find out what other “Getting Started” Steps we should consider during our college admissions research phase.

Hi, I’m Angela Arnold. Welcome to my website, College Admissions411.com. I’m a college consultant, retired teacher, author, advisor, mentor, and tutor to college-bound high school students and their families.

I’ve guided many students on their path towards college, and I can help you, too.

Getting accepted to college has never been more competitive and stressful than it is today. In fact, we are falling behind. The challenges are such that some of today’s students may become the first demographic of Americans since World War II who are less educated than their parents.

Today’s economy is tough on just about everyone, but the people who are struggling the most are those who have not graduated from college.

Those applicants who are able to effectively promote themselves – without bragging – to the college admissions officers will generally be successful.

That’s where a college admissions consultant, like myself, comes in.  We make sure that you and your family are thoroughly informed about the college admissions process so that you can make the right decisions every step of the way.

I’ve included lots of information on this blog, and I will be updating it regularly … But of course, there’s so much more to know.

Right now, just sit back and relax as you go through my blog.

I’d love to answer any of your questions, and I welcome your comments.  You can reply to my blog postings and be assured that I will read and respond to your most pressing issues.

If you’d like to schedule a free 15-minute consultation simply click the “Book Now” button on the right sidebar underneath the royal blue “Free College Admissions Advice” bar.  Students and minor children under 18 years old must have your parents book this consultation for you.
So, again, welcome to my blog.  I congratulate you on taking this step towards getting accepted to your dream college, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.