College Admissions Consulting Early Decision Trends, Priority Applications, and Listener Questions Written by Emily Toffelmireon October 25th, 2018 I came to College Coach after working for many years in college admissions and high school counseling. As a school counselor, I assisted students in the college application process and wrote hundreds of letters of recommendation, while also helping them and their families cope with any emotional, social, and academic concerns throughout the year. I transitioned from the high school setting to the admissions office when I joined the University of Southern California as an assistant director, reading freshmen and transfer applications and collaborating on admission decisions for over 150 majors, including the liberal arts, engineering, business, cinema, and the fine and performing arts. I subsequently took on the role of senior assistant director in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where I coordinated the division's Mork, Stamps, Trustee, Presidential and Dean's merit scholarship selection process, as well as recruitment publications and outreach, and traveled everywhere from Honolulu to Miami presenting to and interviewing hundreds of applicants each year. Learn More About Emily early decision, getting in, priority applications, In our most recent episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Elizabeth Heaton welcomes guests to discuss Early Decision deadlines and “fast apps,” as well as answer a range of listener questions on everything from 401k’s to standardized tests. Early Decision Trends First up, college admission expert Kerrin Lyons, formerly of Tufts University, shares resources you can use to dig up Early Decision statistics. Yes, there’s a central source out there that gives you access to nearly every university’s admission data—tune in to learn more! Beth and Kerrin also discuss just how big a commitment ED is and why probability and statistics should never be the only factors that guide you in your admission process. Listener Questions Next, Beth is joined by another Tufts veteran, financial aid expert Shannon Vasconcelos to tackle listener questions, including: Will changing my retirement contribution change our eligibility for need-based aid? Is my child in medical school taken into account when I apply for aid for their younger sibling? Do I report deferred compensation on the FAFSA? Can we still get a student loan that we initially declined? Should I retake the SAT/ACT if I have a score that fits my target schools? Priority Applications Finally, Julia Jones, former Brandeis University admission officer, answers Beth’s questions about the phenomenon of “fast” or “priority” college applications. What are they, do they improve your chances of admission, and why do colleges use them? Beth and Julia discuss the pros and cons of choosing a fast app over other options. Join us for our next episode when guest host Sally Ganga and her guests will address whether or not to disclose learning disabilities on the admission application, how you’ll know when you’re ready to submit your first college application, and how to keep track of student loans while you’re in college. Don’t miss it! Related Resources Read | Posted on April 16th, 2024 Understanding Direct Admission: A Pathway to Success Read | Posted on April 10th, 2024 Acceptance by Emi Nietfeld; Why You Should Fill out the FAFSA Read | Posted on April 9th, 2024 Community Colleges with Campus Housing
