Planning is crucial: when to prepare and apply

When do I apply?

You will always apply to US universities in your final year of high school, typically between November and mid-January. However, if you've already graduated from high school, you can still apply and be classified as a gap year student.

Types of Application Deadlines

Early Decision (ED)

This is the route for students who are absolutely certain about their dream university. You will submit your application by November, and you'll receive your decision in December. This commitment is binding, which means that you have to attend the university if accepted. You can apply ED to only one university.

Early Action (EA)

For those who want to keep their options open, Early Action offers a non-binding alternative. Applications are typically due in November, and decisions are announced in December or January. Acceptance through EA allows you to explore other university options during Regular Decision. You can apply EA to multiple universities.

Regular Decision (RD)

The standard application process, not bound by any commitment, usually has deadlines in January. Expect decision notifications in March or April, with a final decision deadline of May 1st. You can apply RD to multiple universities. Missing the RD deadline means you'll have to wait an entire year before reapplying.

Rolling Admissions

Some (very few) colleges don't have strict deadlines. They evaluate applications as they come in, on a rolling bases. Some may have priority deadlines, giving preference to applicants who apply early by a specific date.

Gap year students

If you miss the RD application deadline or decide to postpone your application to a year later after you have already finished high school, you will be considered a gap year student. Being a gap year student is very common and does not put you at a disadvantage. In fact, it is a great opportunity to explore your interests, pursue amazing internships, or just study more for your English proficiency tests. Some students take 2 or even 3 gap years.

Here are a few successful international students who took one or more gap years:

🗣️ veronica says...

Veronica Lee

Admissions Expert

“Even though taking a gap year will not hurt your chances of admission, it's important to spend it wisely. On the Common App, you will be asked to write a Gap Year Statement, explaining how you spent it, what you learned, and how it prepared you for success in college.”

Application deadlines worldwide

As you will learn in the following chapters, building a balanced college list will often involve applying to multiple countries beyond the USA. While keeping track of all the different applications might be tricky, you will notice that most deadlines fall around January.