There are many different deadlines to keep track of when navigating the college admissions process. There’s Early Action and Early Decision for the eager beavers who want to show some love to their top choice school, Early Decision II for those who decide to commit later on (and for schools with Early Decision II policies), Regular Decision for the average applicant who’s okay with doing things the old-fashioned way, and those who apply via a rolling deadline where, well, that’s what we’re here to discuss!

Rolling admission allows students to apply at any point in the year (before the deadline, that is!) for consideration in the Regular Decision round and to receive their decision shortly thereafter, not en masse with everyone else. While it’s not a common practice, schools that evaluate applications as they come in fill their ranks with students as they apply and close their doors only once they hit capacity. Rolling admissions is common at the nation’s top public schools, but very few highly selective private schools have it.

Rolling admissions is a great way to get a non-binding admissions decision back as soon as possible, sometimes even before senior year (if you’ve applied early enough). It will give you some peace of mind as you prepare for the rest of your college applications, even if it doesn’t come with the admissions boost associated with applying Early. But be warned that if you delay applying to a school with rolling admission, you risk being passed over for early-bird applicants who have submitted their materials ahead of you, even if you’re a more competitive applicant!

When to Take Advantage of Rolling Admission and When to Opt for Early Decision

We at Ivy Coach generally wouldn’t recommend taking advantage of a rolling admission when Early Decision for the same school is on the table. Admissions officers value ED applicants above all other types of applicants because they want to curate highly enthusiastic classes composed of students who can’t imagine themselves anywhere else. If it were your job to admit students to your school, wouldn’t you prioritize the students who committed themselves early on? For the record, all Ivy Coach clients apply for Early Decision for this reason — to take advantage of this admissions boost.

Rolling admission allows one to submit their application along a similar timeline, early in the admissions season, without committing to their target school. In other words, high school seniors can apply ED to one school, take advantage of a rolling deadline at another, and wind up with two acceptances under their belt when the New Year rolls around. It’s a reassuring thought to be sure: as everyone else scrambles to assemble their last-minute application materials, you get to lay back and relax (within reason — don’t let those grades slack as colleges have been known to rescind admission!). However, if your ED application is binding, you’ll have to rescind all other applications to other schools, meaning colleges with rolling admissions will suddenly be off the table.

Which Schools Have Rolling Admissions?

Notable schools that use rolling admissions include Rutgers University, Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Minnesota, and Binghamton University. To see a complete list of universities with rolling admissions, check out our blog on the subject.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Taking Advantage of a Rolling Admissions Deadline

Taking advantage of rolling admissions at a selective college requires plenty of forethought and planning. At Ivy Coach, our team of former elite college admissions officers will plan out your child’s senior year application timeline so that your child can focus on enjoying their remaining time in high school. Our early bird approach to college admissions means we will do all the heavy lifting months ahead of senior year and help your child craft a compelling singular hook that admissions officers at their top choice school won’t be able to resist. Once deadlines start rolling around, you and your child can rest easy.

If you would like to optimize your child’s odds of admission, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.