Regular Decision (RD): The student applies to the college by the regular deadline (usually early January) with the majority of other applicants, and a decision is made by April 1.

Early Decision (ED): The student applies to the college by November 1 and receives a decision typically by mid-December. This option is a binding agreement in which the student is committed to enroll if offered admission, regardless of offers of financial assistance. The student must withdraw all other applications admitted. If not accepted under Early Decision, a student can be deferred to the regular admission decision pool or denied admission.

Early Action (EA): Students receive an admissions decision typically by mid-December. If accepted under Early Action, students are not required to accept admission or withdraw other applications. They have until the spring to respond to the offer. Depending on the college’s rules, students may apply to more than one school Early Action. Students may be deferred from EA and placed into the regular admission pool or denied admission.

Restrictive Early Action (REA): The same timelines apply as with other early programs, however, the student may ONLY apply to ONE school Early Action. This is sometime also called “Single Choice” Early Action.

Rolling Admission: The college considers each student’s application as soon as all the required credentials (application, school record, and test scores) have been received. Students are typically notified of the decision within 4-6 weeks.

Deferred Admission: Students who have applied under an Early Decision plan and are deferred will be considered during the school’s regular decision timeframe. Often, the college wants to see the student’s first semester senior grades and the rest of the applicant pool before making an admission decision.

C.E.E.B. Code: The six-digit College Entrance Examination Board Code that the College Board and universities use to identify high schools. Page’s code is 341632.

Common Application (Common App): The standard application form that can be sent to close to 500 college institutions. Note that many, but not all, colleges use this universal application along with an additional supplement.

College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile): An application distributed by the CollegeBoard that allows students to apply for financial aid.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): A form completed by all applicants interested in receiving federal student aid. The form is typically available October 1 of the year the student will be entering college.

Say Yes Certification Form: Required form for students applying for “Say Yes” scholarship money. Portal to complete the form opens October 1 and closes July 1. See Say Yes page for more information about eligibility.

Secondary School Report Form (SSRF): A form counselors use to provide information about students, in addition to a letter of recommendation. Not all schools require this.

Senior Questionnaire: A set of questions distributed to students prior to writing the letter of recommendation. This helps counselors learn more about the student for whom they will write. This is completed at the beginning of senior year. Students and encouraged to answer fully and thoughtfully.

Score Choice: An optional score-reporting feature that gives students the option to choose the SAT scores by test date and SAT Subject Test scores by individual test that they send to colleges, in accordance with each institution’s individual score-use practice.