It started in Texas, gained traction in Florida, and has now spread to the Pacific Northwest. “It” is the advent of new Early Action admissions plans for high school seniors applying to college.
When a high school senior applies to a college or university “Early Action” it means he or she is submitting his or her application by a specific early deadline (usually in October, November, or December) and will in turn receive an admissions decision earlier than when that college or university releases its admissions decisions to students who apply “Regular Decision” (which is usually associated with a January or February application deadline). When a student is admitted “Early Action,” the student is not committed to enroll at that college and has until May 1 of his or her senior year in high school in order to decide where to matriculate.
In March, The University of Texas at Austin announced the introduction of a new Early Action program for first-year applicants. This optional early deadline will require application submission by October 15, with a guaranteed decision communicated to first-year applicants by January 15. The regular deadline for first-year applications will remain December 1 and come along with a guaranteed decision communicated by February 15.
University of Florida then announced later in March that for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle it would also begin offering first-year applicants the chance to apply Early Action. By adopting the Early Action plan, potential first-year students who submit their applications by November 1, 2024 and submit all required materials will be notified on January 24, 2025 of their admissions status with UF.
“The University of Florida draws elite students, and this initiative is an important opportunity for our university and our students,” UF President Ben Sasse said at the time of the announcement. “Not only will it help UF attract the best minds, but it will also identify and reward students who are bold enough and determined enough to challenge themselves here in our rigorous academic environment.”
“Early Action will provide more certainty to selected students by notifying them of admission decisions earlier,” said Mary Parker, vice president for enrollment management at UF. “We appreciate how stressful it can be to plan for college. This plan will help reduce stress for aspiring Gators and their families; allowing more time to prepare for their time at UF – such as looking into housing and financial aid options.”
Not to be outdone by its neighbor just to the north, University of Central Florida announced in late June that it too would offer an Early Action admissions plan for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Under UCF’s new plan, first-year applicants who wish to apply Early Action for the Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 term must submit their application by Oct. 15, 2024 and all required application materials must be received by November 1, 2024. Those first-year applicants who meet these deadlines will receive a final admission decision or deferral for additional information on November 15, 2024.
“Transitioning to this early action and modified rolling admission process reflects our commitment to providing prospective Knights with a clear and timely admission experience, while maintaining flexibility for those students who prefer a rolling process,” said Alicia Keaton, interim associate vice president for enrollment planning and management at UCF. “We understand that the college application process can be stressful, and this change will allow families to operate on a timeline that works best for them, helping them to better plan for their future.”
Florida State University already offers an Early Action admission option for first-year applicants as long as such applicants are Florida residents. UF’s and UCF’s new Early Action plans are open to all first-year applicants, regardless of state of residency.
Yet, it’s not just public universities joining the Early Action bandwagon. Gonzaga University, a private Jesuit university in Spokane, Washington, also announced in June that it would start offering Early Action for the first time during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.
Gonzaga’s Early Action deadline is set for November 15, 2024, and Early Action decisions are anticipated to be released in late December 2024. Gonzaga will still have a Regular Decision deadline of February 1 to provide some applicants the opportunity to include more senior year grades for admission review. Students applying under the Regular Decision deadline can expect decisions by early March 2025. In addition, all applications to Gonzaga’s nursing program must be submitted by the Early Action deadline of November 15. Applications received after this date will be considered for the nursing waitlist.
“Gonzaga University is committed to supporting our prospective students by providing processes that fit their needs,” said Steve Keller, senior director of Undergraduate Admission. “These application options benefit students wishing to lock in college decisions early, as well as students waiting to include information that could enhance their profile in the admission review,” Keller said. “We’ve found that they appreciate this flexibility and we’re pleased to reflect the needs and expectations of today’s applicants.”
The formal start of the 2024-2025 admissions cycle for first-year applicants is increasingly recognized as August 1, as this is the date each year when the Common App, the application used by over 1,000 colleges and universities, goes live for students applying for first-year admission for the following August or September.