If you're a student applying for college for the first time, you need to get acquainted with the concept of rolling admissions. This method is perfect for students who are having a hard time applying to schools with a traditional admission process.
Rolling Admission Basics
As mentioned, this is a concept that admission offices implement to introduce new students into their programs. Basically, these schools will start admitting candidates one by one until they fill out the quote. It is a concept of first-come, first-serve.
The great thing about rolling admission schools is that you'll get an acceptance letter much faster compared to universities that use the traditional acceptance process. Most officers review candidates on a daily basis instead of waiting for a specific date to review all of them.
In other words, you can get a fast spot if you’re one of the first students to send an application. Although the application process is rather straightforward, some candidates will hire college admissions consulting experts to help them select the best destination.
Tips for Applying to a Rolling Admission School
Before applying to a particular program, make sure to check these tips; they might alter the course of your career!
1. Certain Colleges have Priority Deadliness
Certain schools implement priority deadliness for students looking to take advantage of rolling admissions. The faster you apply, the higher chances you get in. But even if you miss the deadline, you still have a chance of getting a spot. This is especially true during years when schools change their selectivity rate.
Besides tracking rolling deadlines, it isn't a bad idea to track other deadlines for that particular college. For example, some institutions provide housing scholarships, merit-based scholarships, and financial aid to those who apply first for this type of assistance.
2. Finish Your Stuff Prior to July
The common practice in the US is to start rolling admission on the 1st of September. However, that doesn't mean that all schools abide by this rule. We suggest you research your target college's policies during the summer to get ahead of other students.
The last thing you want to do is wait until the second semester of your last high school year. A common practice that proactive students use is creating an internal deadline. In other words, try to finish the entire process as soon as possible, and if you have the chance, do so in July.
3. Don’t Trust the Website
Of course, you should always start with the college website when applying to any school. However, keep in mind that certain schools aren't that prompt when updating their pages. To avoid potentially nasty surprises, we suggest you contact the admissions office and talk with one of the officers.
During this call, not only will you learn more about the entire process and the deadliness, but you’ll also have a chance to ask questions that aren’t covered on the site. Most of the college admission officers are forthcoming and will do everything in their power to help you out.
4. Read the Application Carefully
Most schools with rolling admissions use Common App or their own proprietary application. Allocate enough time to fill the form in peace. Read each question several times to avoid mistakes and prepare documents in advance. Many applications are rejected due to careless errors, such as not including a letter of recommendation or transcript.
Besides the documents, you must double-check each piece of information (especially important for numbers). Provide name, class rank, address, and other vital data. Once you're done with everything, go over the grammar and check for spelling mistakes. We suggest you use the free Grammarly version for this checkup.
5. Contact the College
If no one’s getting back to you, there’s a good chance something went wrong. Contact the admissions office to see if they receive the application through regular channels. Sometimes, students forget to click the “submit” button or make some other blunder. There are also cases where the application doesn’t go through due to app or server error.
6. There Are no Guarantees
Most people apply to schools with rolling admissions because they believe these colleges provide an easy entrance. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Furthermore, such a system might even lull you into a false sense of security and make you disregard other colleges.
If you had a low point average, there's still a chance the college will reject your application. To avoid this issue, contact the admissions office and inquire about their basic requirements. That way, you’ll determine if the school is a realistic choice and if you should start sending applications to other addresses.
7. Perform Due Diligence
No matter what, you should approach your application process in the same manner you would prior to learning about rolling admissions. In other words, you should create a list of preferred destinations and prepare applications for each school. If you’re looking to be proactive, you might also consider sending your documents to one or two Early Action colleges.
However, even if you take Early Action institutions into account, you shouldn't leave things to chance. In the end, rolling admissions (which start accepting students after Early Action schools) might be a much better choice for you. Even if you think you're a shoo-in for a spot, you need to have a mentality as if you're still not accepted and to review other options.
Conclusion
Although rolling admission schools sound like a great option, don't take them for granted. Create a list that combines colleges with traditional and rolling admissions, and dedicate yourself to writing the best possible applications. Gather information about each school and its requirements, and calculate the likelihood of getting in.
We also recommend you contact one of the officers to see about the actual deadline. You can be straightforward with the staff and ask them about the best way of getting accepted. You might also want to mention your high school grades and SAT scores to have a better understanding of your chances.
