My Class of 2025 is preparing to see their hard work come to fruition. We saw a few decisions last week, 8 of my 11 Early Action University of Georgia applicants were admitted (WAHOO!), and all three of my Early Decision Texas Christian University applicants were admitted—Go Frogs! I also have some VERY happy clients who have been admitted to Dartmouth, Princeton, and Notre Dame already! This week and next week will bring in many, many more Early Decision I and Early Action decisions.

This month, we continue our exploration of college admissions terminology by diving into some of the less commonly understood pathways: Regular Decision, Rolling Admission, Restrictive Early Action, Single-Choice Early Action, and how to handle deferrals and waitlists. These terms are highlighted in the Magnolia Method and crucial to understand as we navigate the complexities of college admissions.

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regular decision

Regular Decision is the standard application pathway for many colleges and universities. Deadlines range from late fall to early February. Here are some reasons why students may choose this option:

It is the only pathway offered like at The University of San Diego!
They need their fall semester grades included in their application. Maybe they had a dip in grades in junior year, and we need the fall semester to rebound.
The university only offers Early Decision (ED) or Regular Decision, and the student is choosing not to apply Early Decision.
They’re applying Early Decision elsewhere.
They’re waiting on November or December test scores to strengthen their academic profile. Notre Dame, for example, will often advise that students wait to apply to put their very best foot forward!
It’s important to note that Regular Decision often comes with significantly lower acceptance rates compared to Early Decision or Early Action—typically in the low single digits!

Examples of schools my clients frequently apply to via Regular Decision include: Syracuse, George Washington University, and many Ivy League institutions.

rolling admission

Rolling Admission allows students to apply and receive decisions on a rolling basis, often within weeks of submitting their application. This pathway generally has higher acceptance rates and is common for safety schools on my clients’ lists.

For students who want peace of mind with an early acceptance, Rolling Admission schools can be a great option. I love encouraging my clients to apply to their rolling decision schools in August so they can have an acceptance in their hands while their later decisions come in.

Popular schools with Rolling Admission include: Spring Hill College, Loyola University Chicago, and The University of Arizona.

restrictive early action

Restrictive Early Action allows students to apply early without committing to attend if accepted. However, it comes with certain restrictions, such as limiting the number of other early applications a student can submit. The language has to be clearly explained and understood by my clients; often I find the language too risky or limiting.

Advantages of REA:

Non-binding, allowing students to compare financial aid offers.
Provides an early decision, often by December.

Schools my clients commonly apply to offering REA include: Notre Dame, Princeton, and Stanford.

single choice early action

Single-Choice Early Action is similar to REA, but often applies to highly selective schools. Students can typically only apply early to one private college but may still apply to public institutions with non-binding programs.

For example, Yale’s SCEA program allows early applications to:

Non-binding public institution programs.
Rolling admission programs at public schools.

You can see why I consider this VERY limiting. Choosing to forgo an early action plan at, say, U Miami, endangers my client with being placed on their waitlist in regular decision.

deferrals: what you need to know

A deferral occurs when a college postpones its decision on an application, moving the student into the Regular Decision pool.

If you’re deferred:

Indicate your continued interest in the school (e.g., TCU requires students to confirm their interest via the applicant portal).
Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). What is this? Stay tuned! This is next month’s newsletter!
Provide updated grades or achievements if allowed.

Deferrals happen often, and generally, I don’t consider them a good sign. If a student is deferred and nothing changes dramatically over the first semester of senior year, I encourage my clients to prepare for a waitlist offer or denial in regular decision.

Waitlists: what you need to know

Waitlist trends can vary significantly year to year. UVA admitted 10% of students off the waitlist and UGA had a 15% admit rate from their waitlist this year.

If placed on a waitlist, it’s crucial to:

Review the numbers from the prior year at that institution to determine likelihood. Last year, for example, Rice offered 3805 waitlist spots, of which 2802 accepted thier spot on the waitlist. 7 students were admitted off the waitlist—7! So if you are offered a spot at Rice on the waitlist, move on!
Consider writing a letter of continued interest or, as I like to call it, a Love Letter!
Understand if the waitlist is ranked (typically not).
Decide whether to remain on the list. Do not do so if you have absolutely no interest in attending that school. The desire to “see if you get in” is selfish and silly.
Understand the likelihood of admission and commit by May 1 to another institution.
Be honest with potential roommates! Tell them you may take a spot off of a waitlist elsewhere. This saves heartache on both sides.

spring admission/deferred admission

Some colleges offer spring admission to a select group of applicants. While this can be a great opportunity, it’s not without drawbacks. For example, students admitted for spring may miss out on fall activities like sorority or fraternity rush. I am seeing a real increase in these offers, often at Northeastern and U Miami, and together we can explore how appropriate they are when you are my client.

Spring admission might be a good fit for students who:

Want to take a gap semester.
Need time to mature and focus on their mental well-being, high school can cause burnout!
Really want to attend the university and don’t mind taking an alternative path.

As we wrap up this year, remember that understanding these pathways can make all the difference in crafting a strong application strategy. If you work with me, The Magnolia Method will ensure success and peace of mind!

WOW!!! Check out these statistics for UT Austin!

Many of my clients apply here, and most from out of state. These are not promising odds, but if you work with me, you know we can create a compelling strategy to nail those supplements!

48% increase in out-of-state applicants is CRAZY!!!

Whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, or advisor—you recognize the tremendous benefit of higher education and its impact on shaping one’s future. And no matter your role within this incredibly defining decision-making process, it can be a stressful time for you.

I’m here to be your advisor, organizer, tutor, cheerleader, friend, and compass through this journey. I’ve helped over 2,000 students locate and gain acceptance to the college of their dreams, and I’m so excited to help you, too.

Let’s get to work!

-Allie Pierson, Founder

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