CampusPin Glossary
Regular Decision
The standard application timeline: apply by January 1–15, hear back by late March or early April, choose by May 1.
Regular Decision is the default U.S. application timeline. Most selective colleges set a Regular Decision deadline of January 1, 5, or 15. Decisions are released in late March or early April, and admitted students have until the May 1 National Decision Day to accept and submit a deposit.
Regular Decision accommodates students who need fall semester grades or want to compare aid offers from multiple schools, since most schools release financial-aid packages with the admission decision.
See also
Early Decision (ED)
A binding early-application option: if admitted, the student must withdraw all other applications and enroll.
Early Action (EA)
A non-binding early-application option that lets students apply early and hear back early without committing to attend.
Rolling admissions
An admissions process where applications are reviewed as they arrive and decisions are released continuously — usually within 4–8 weeks.
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