When should college decisions be submitted by?

Stressed junior here, just trying to get everything in order for applying to colleges. What's the typical deadline for college decisions to be made by? Does it differ from college to college or is there a nationwide date?

For the majority of colleges and universities, the regular decision application deadlines fall between January 1st and January 15th, but the date you'll need to have made your final decision by is nationally recognized as May 1st. This day is known as National College Decision Day, and it's the date by which most students will need to have accepted an offer of admission, usually with a deposit, from the college they plan to attend.

However, there can be some variation. For example, if you've applied Early Decision or Early Action, your decision date might be much earlier, as these programs often require a response within a couple of weeks of notification. Similarly, some colleges might have different decision deadlines for students admitted off the waitlist or those applying for rolling admission.

Despite these exceptions, May 1st is the standard deadline for most colleges. It's crucial to check your specific colleges' policies and deadlines so you don't miss any important dates. Always refer to your acceptance letters or the colleges' official websites to confirm these details.