Rutgers University's Rolling Admissions Policy

I'm looking at Rutgers University for my undergrad and I noticed they have a 'rolling admissions' policy. Can someone familiar with the process explain what that means for application deadlines, decision dates, and my overall chances of getting in?

When a school uses a rolling admissions policy like Rutgers University, it means they review applications as they are submitted and make admissions decisions throughout the admissions cycle. As a result, there are no hard application deadlines as seen in regular decision processes. The application process opens up early, usually in the fall, and stays open until all spaces are filled.

So, if you apply early in the application cycle, you might receive a decision within a few weeks after completing your application. The timeline for receiving a decision will generally get longer as more applications come in and the pool becomes more competitive.

It's important to note that many colleges, Rutgers included, may have a priority deadline. Meeting this deadline doesn't affect your admissions chances but it does make you eligible for certain advantages, such as priority consideration for scholarships.

In terms of your overall chances of acceptance, applying earlier in a rolling admissions cycle can sometimes be beneficial. That's because late in the cycle, fewer spots will be available, as they've already been filled by earlier applicants. In practical terms, it means the earlier you apply, the less competition you will have.

Finally, another advantage of rolling admissions is it allows more flexibility for students who might be late deciding on where they want to apply. However, I would advise against waiting too long. Once those available spots fill up, they're gone. So it's a good idea to apply early enough to ensure your application gets considered.