All in Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED)

2025 Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) College Admissions Trends

2025 Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) College Admissions Trends

Christina Taber-Kewene
Post-Application, College Acceptance, College Admissions, Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED)

Learn about the increasingly competitive landscape of college admissions trends in 2025. Some questions this addresses are: What early trends are we seeing in acceptances for the Class of 2025? Which trends from recent years remain, and what is changing this year?  What do we predict for regular decision (spring) outcomes?  How does the test optional movement and some colleges’ return to requiring test scores affect admissions moving forward? What will happen with SAT and ACT test requirements in the future? 

What To Do With Your ED/EA Outcomes

What To Do With Your ED/EA Outcomes

Christina Taber-Kewene
Post-Application, Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED), College Acceptance, Getting Waitlisted & Deferred, College Admissions

It’s the best thing EVER when you are admitted to your Early Decision school. You are done with applications (except in some cases) and ready to attend your dream school next year. Similarly, Early Action results present you with admissions decisions before the regular decision pool of applicants so that you can begin to breathe a bit easier and start narrowing your focus. But if you are deferred or denied, you have some decisions to make.

Interviews and Video Introductions for College Admissions

Interviews and Video Introductions for College Admissions

Christina Taber-Kewene
Applying to Colleges, Common Application, Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED), Interviews

The vast majority of colleges and universities in the US do not interview students; however, for those that do, the purpose, focus, and timing can vary greatly, depending on the school. This blog covers how to prepare for interviews with highly selective colleges, and also discusses the growing trend of video introductions in the college application process.

College Acceptance Trends for Class of 2024

College Acceptance Trends for Class of 2024

Christina Taber-Kewene
College Acceptance, Acceptance Trends, Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED), Getting Waitlisted & Deferred, College Admissions

Who would have thought that the University of Tennessee would be deferring and denying so many high stats kids? Other schools, like Clemson and the University of South Carolina, are deferring high percentages of out-of-state students as their application numbers soar. This year I have seen multiple high stats students offered a place at Penn State only if they would begin in the summer– an option that used to be offered just to students with much lower stats. And schools like Northeastern and the University of Miami continue to offer students spots on their main campuses only after they do a semester abroad or on a different US campus.

Early Decision and Getting Deferred

Early Decision and Getting Deferred

Christina Taber-Kewene
College Acceptance, Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED)

Getting deferred or rejected is not the news you were hoping for in this early round, but most students are going to face some rejection during this process. If you were deferred or rejected from your Early Decision school, you are now released from your binding agreement. If you were rejected, then that decision is final for this application cycle. You may not re-apply there this year. If you were deferred and are still interested in the ED school, read the deferral letter to learn what you can submit.

I Got Accepted to College! Now What?

I Got Accepted to College! Now What?

Christina Taber-Kewene
College Acceptance, Applying to Colleges, Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED)

You may start to get acceptances from rolling and early action schools now. After all your hard work, that’s the best news ever! Keep track of anything required, but in general, you should hang tight even while the school sends you approximately 967 emails each day pressuring you to commit. Under no circumstance should you put down an enrollment deposit-- you can only put down an enrollment deposit at one school-- until you are certain you want to attend the school.