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Nonrestrictive Application Plans
All of these plans allow you to wait until May 1 to confirm enrollment.

Regular Decision
Definition Breakdown: You submit an app by a specified date and receive a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time. You may apply to other schools without restriction.

Teen Speak: Just think of "regular decision" as "The Usual" -- you apply to as many schools as you want, meet each one's corresponding regular Deadline, and wait with the rest of the applicants who applied using the same approach.

Rolling admissions
Definition Breakdown: Rolling admissions means a school reviews apps as they are completed and gives decisions throughout the admissions cycle. You may apply to other schools without restriction.

Teen Speak: Going with this app procedure means you'll be "Rolling with the School" -- either there are no deadlines or there are several throughout the year. You'll have to check to see how each school operates.

Nonrestrictive Early Action
Definition Breakdown: You apply and receive a decision well in advance of the school's regular response date. If admitted, you're not obligated to accept the offer of admission or submit a deposit prior to May 1. You may apply to other colleges.

Teen Speak: Let's call this "The Not-So-Definite, Early-Bird Lite" approach. If you want a head start -- you can apply to your choice school earlier than others -- but aren't absolutely sure which school you want to attend, this method has your name written all over it. We've deemed this early action plan "lite" because you have the opportunity to send early applications to other colleges on your list. (See Restrictive Early Action for the "heavy" version.)

Restrictive Application Plans
These plans allow schools to limit students from applying to other early plans.

Definition Breakdown: You make a commitment to your first-choice school and, if admitted, you'll definitely enroll. You may apply to other institutions, but can have only one early-decision app pending at any time. If you are not able to afford the school, you can decline the admission offer and be released from the early-decision commitment. Usually, a nonrefundable deposit will be made well in advance of May 1. The school will respond to your application for Financial aid at or near the time of an offer of admission.

Teen Speak: Consider this the AAA -- "Advance Absolute Approach" -- whereby you definitely want to attend a particular college, you apply to that school early, and you get accepted (or rejected) early. If they say yes -- so long as the financial aid package is reasonable - you must attend. But not to worry: In the event of rejection (cross your fingers if you made the wrong choice!), you're allowed to apply to other schools, but not early decision -- hence the "restricted" disclaimer. You can only apply to one school early decision; you'll have to apply "The Usual" way to your backups.

Restrictive Early Action
Definition Breakdown: Restrictive early actions means you apply to a school and receive a decision well in advance of its regular response date. Institutions with restrictive early action plans usually place limitations on your application to other early plans (check with your choice school for details). If you are admitted under restrictive early action, you're not obligated to accept the offer or submit an early deposit.

Teen Speak: Remember "The Not-So-Definite Early-Bird Lite" method? Well this is "The Not-So-Definite, Early Bird Heavy." Under this method, you can apply early to your choice school so you can be admitted or turned away early just like the Nonrestrictive Early Action. What makes this restrictive "heavy" is that although you're not obligated to attend, you can't apply early decision or nonrestrictive early action to any other school. You can apply "The Usual" way, of course.


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Ysolt Usigan is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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