Hey everyone, I'm in my junior year and I'm wondering, when do most students typically commit to a college? I've received mixed advice and just hoping to get a general timeframe. Thanks!
Most students commit to a college by May 1st, which is considered the National College Decision Day. However, the timeline can differ for a few reasons. If you've applied for Early Decision (ED) and are accepted, you're expected to commit to that school shortly after receiving your decision, which typically falls in mid-December. Regarding Early Action (EA) or Rolling Decision applications, you could receive acceptances earlier, but you're not required to commit until May 1st.
Also, for athletes being recruited, the timeline might be earlier depending on when they receive their offer and how quickly they decide to commit. Students who are waitlisted and later accepted may commit later than May 1st as well, depending on when they receive notice of their acceptance.
Aside from these scenarios, May 1st is generally the day by which most students commit to a college. It's essential, though, to check with each specific college about their commitment deadline because some schools may have different dates.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.