When are college admission decisions due?

Okay guys, I'm preparing myself for D-Day: decision day. While I've got a handle on most deadlines, I'm still uncertain about some. Does anyone know when college admission decisions are typically due?

Admissions decisions from colleges typically roll out in a staged manner, depending on the type of application you submitted—Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), or Regular Decision (RD).

For Early Decision and Early Action, decisions are usually released in mid-December, though there can be some variation between schools. Check with your individual colleges for their specific dates, which are often found on their admissions websites.

If you applied Regular Decision, you can generally expect to hear back from colleges around late March or early April. Again, there is some variability here. Many colleges aim to release their decisions by April 1, but not all stick to this timeline.

Remember that these are the dates when schools will release their decisions, not when you need to have your decision made. Most colleges will require you to commit to the school (by paying a deposit) by May 1, which is known as National College Decision Day. Be sure to check with your specific colleges to know exactly when you'll need to submit your official commitment, though.

One additional note: this timeline can vary for colleges with rolling admissions, which may review applications and make decisions on a continual basis, often within a few weeks of receiving an application.