What is a rolling admission college?

I'm a high school junior exploring college options and I've heard about rolling admission but I'm not exactly sure what it means. Can someone explain how rolling admission differs from regular or early decision admissions?

In a rolling admissions process, colleges review applications as they come in and make decisions on a continuous basis, rather than waiting until after a specific deadline. This enables the schools to begin admitting students earlier in the year, and continues until all spots in the incoming class have been filled.

There are a few key differences between rolling admissions and regular decision or early decision.

1. Timeliness: You can apply at any time within a large window, which usually opens in the fall and can extend through the spring. The earlier you apply, the sooner you're likely to receive a decision.

2. Reduced wait time: Unlike regular decision, where all applications are reviewed after the deadline and decisions are sent out all at once, rolling admission colleges start sending out acceptance letters almost as soon as applications start coming in, with applicants typically receiving a decision within 4-6 weeks.

3. Flexibility: Applying via rolling admission provides students with a degree of flexibility, as they don't need to wait for a specific deadline to submit their application.

4. Limited slots: However, because colleges will continue to accept students until their class is full, slots may fill up fast, and there may be fewer spots available the longer you wait to apply.

In contrast, under early decision (ED), students apply early (typically in November) and commit to attending the school if they're accepted. Regular decision has a deadline (typically in January), everyone's applications are reviewed after that deadline, and decisions are released en masse in the spring. Make sure to review the application process for each college where you plan to apply, as procedures can vary.