For many schools, you don’t have to wait as long as you think to find out if you’d get in. As long as they offer an Early Action option, like Siena does, you can speed up the process by submitting your application (usually in November) to receive a priority review. Not sure if you should strive for that early deadline? Here are five reasons why we think Early Action is a smart move.
1. You don’t have to commit. If you apply for Early Action and get in, it’s a non-binding acceptance. That means the school will secure your spot without you needing to commit, so you can still keep your options open and hold off on your final decision until you’re ready to make it in May. Plus, you can apply Early Action to as many schools as you’d like.
2. It shows us you know where you belong. Have you already explored the campus and felt at home? Talked with students and saw potential friendships? Found courses that echoed your needs, or just really unique classes you'd love to take? Trust your gut; if there’s a strong connection early on, you don’t have to wait to see if you’re the right fit. Admissions counselors get excited when you’re excited, too, and they want to make your decision process as easy as possible.
3. You can figure out your finances sooner. Now that the FAFSA is available starting October 1, there's a good chance you'll receive award letters soon after you receive acceptances. By applying Early Action, you'll find out the details of your packages sooner, so you can begin steering your research toward additional scholarships or setting up appointments with financial aid counselors to discuss next steps.
4. There’s room for improvement. Some schools are happy to give feedback if they feel your application has potential—but may need work—before handing over an acceptance letter. At Siena, for example, we’re open to getting the conversation started (which is easier to do since you've submitted the app early). An admissions counselor may connect directly with you about ways to improve your chances of getting accepted, like improving test scores or writing the optional essay. And again, since it's earlier in the admissions process, you’ll have plenty of time to tweak.
5. You also have more time to make your decision. Sometimes there’s nothing better than that satisfying relief of knowing you’ve been accepted to a college you're really interested in. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back! If you receive multiple acceptance letters, now the choice is completely yours. Take the extra time to revisit campuses, do further research on classes, make a pros and cons list. On the flip side, if you don’t get in to your top choices, you can use the time to reevaluate your options and check out different schools.
Ready to apply? The deadline to submit your Early Action application to Siena is November 15, so get started today!
