When Should I Start Applying To Colleges?

Whether applying early or waiting to refine your application, there are many opportunities to apply to small, private colleges and receive substantial scholarships and financial aid to fund your education.

Pacific’s new priority admissions pathway gives you the opportunity to apply for graduate programs right out of high school, saving your spot in some of the most in-demand professional tracks. 

During the 2022-2023 admissions cycle, 1,244,476 prospective undergraduate students submitted applications to colleges across the United States.

That means that over 1.2 million applicants entered the often mysterious world of college admissions, eagerly hoping their acceptance letters would come as soon as possible.

The college admissions window can be equal parts thrilling and confounding, as knowing what colleges look for (something your personalized admissions counselor can help with) in an ideal application isn’t always obvious.

Knowing what the university admissions timeline looks like can relieve a lot of the stress while you wait, and also free up your mind to focus on other aspects of the first-year college experience.

Getting familiar with when to start applying for college, preparing for early action deadlines, and understanding the rolling admissions process can make the start of your college journey much more successful.

Ready to learn how to conquer the college application timeline? Let’s get to it.

PACIFIC’S APPLICATION CHECKLIST

When Should You Start Applying for College?

So, how early can you start applying to colleges? And when is too late?

Typically, the Common App — a college application portal used by over 1,000 colleges and universities — begins accepting admissions materials starting on August 1.

However, most prospective undergraduates will not yet have the required materials for many applications by this time, and will instead apply to colleges sometime between the months of August and February.

This window allows you to explore all your higher education options through campus visits, attending college fairs, and speaking with admissions counselors.

Once you have everything you need, applying early to colleges that interest you can have distinct advantages, including: 

• More scholarship availability. Scholarship money is limited at some schools, and while many small private colleges guarantee that a percentage of tuition is paid for by financial aid, certain scholarships are first come, first served.

  By submitting your application as soon as possible, you will become eligible for more scholarships, both nationally and at your prospective school, before they are depleted.

• More time to decide. Oftentimes, an earlier application means an earlier acceptance, giving you the most possible time to choose your college before College Decision Day in May.

  Getting answers to your college questions early on can empower you to feel confident in your decision about where to take the next step in your journey.

• More college interest in you. While many aspects of the college selection process are kept secret, one thing that is known is that colleges show increased interest in students who apply early.

  Applying early shows schools that you are prioritizing them in your college search, something that could return more financial aid and a faster acceptance.

While applying early has clear benefits, it’s important to note that you should not submit your college application through the Common App until it is ready.

Sacrificing your application’s quality simply to submit it as soon as possible is likely to result in an unfavorable result. 

What is the Difference Between Early Action and Early Decision?

Although they may sound similar, early action and early decision are very different ways to submit your undergraduate college application. 

While both can result in an expedited response, the requirements attached to the kind of application you submit can have a large impact on your ability to choose the best possible college for your needs and goals.

While both options combine the security of a rapid response, only early action schools give you the flexibility to navigate the college application landscape while still securing your spot early on.

Pacific offers two early action application opportunities (in both fall and winter) so that you can get a decision as quickly as possible and put the stress of college admissions in the rearview.

Does Applying Late in the Admissions Cycle Impact Your Chances?

There are many reasons you may want to submit your college application after the early action deadline.

You may be waiting on a recommendation letter, participating in an application-boosting extracurricular, or retaking a standardized test in hope of a better score.

In recent years, a portion of small private colleges — Pacific included — have transitioned to a rolling admissions process after their early action dates have passed.  

Rolling admissions means that, after a certain point, there is no set application deadline and that you will receive a response as your materials are reviewed.

Submitting your application within the rolling admissions process does not disqualify you from receiving scholarships and financial aid.

Rather, the rolling admissions process gives you ample time to research, visit, and apply to the colleges you are interested in.

How Long Does it Take for Universities to Reply to Your Application?

Every university processes admissions applications differently, which means that the time it takes to hear back about your admissions decision can vary depending on your school.

Colleges with fixed application timelines tend to send admission responses to all applicants on a set date, usually one to two months after their stated deadline.

Universities that use a rolling admissions model, like Pacific, review applications as they are received. This means that you will hear back not long after you submitted your application, roughly two to six weeks in most cases.

For many, the fastest way to get an admissions decision is to submit your application during the early action window, which are some of the first applications reviewed during the academic year. 

Get a Head Start with Guaranteed Graduate School Admission 

Already have an idea about the career you want to pursue after you graduate from college? 

Guaranteed graduate school programs, like those at Pacific, allow you to apply for undergraduate and graduate school at the same time, saving your space in the professional program that fits your passion.

Priority admission pathways admit students to both programs simultaneously, meaning that you can secure a place in graduate school right out of high school. 

Got questions about submitting your application? Connect with your personalized admissions counselor today and see what it takes to become a Boxer.

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