When presented with many of life’s big questions, I often turn to my tried-and-true magic eight ball, a relic from the 70s that packs more knowledgeable responses than Ken Jennings in Double Jeopardy.

Lying on my couch in my leopard-print pajamas, I’ll shake the plastic orb, peer inquisitively through the blue-dye water, and pray for something more definitive than a “Better not tell you now.” The early admissions process, however, is no question for such immature playthings. This is serious stuff—the college biz—and I demand something more than what can be read off a floating prism.

Early admission rates for colleges this year are all over the place.  Duke is up 32% on the year, Yale has seen a slight ebbing of 5%, after record numbers from the prior two years.  Other institutions (by the name of Harvard and Princeton—ever heard of them?) have dropped the early admissions process altogether.  This is not the norm.

The big question, however, is what’s the advantage?  Is it all just a bunch of malarkey?  some rope-a-dope for unwitting applicants?  a fast ride through a short tunnel?

I’m glad you asked.  Here’s an emoticon that’s totally apropos:  =)

If there’s anything you should glean from this blog post, it’s this: universities admit early admission applications at a higher rate than regular decision applications (sometimes up to a 30% acceptance rate).  And, admission to a university through early admission often does not require any early commitment—you can still wait until late spring to accept.  Much like a snake with legs, it’s the best of both worlds, a chimera of sorts.

Another highlight to the early admission process is that it indicates to the university that 1) you are serious about your post-secondary education and 2) you are wildly interested in their university.  This may attribute to the higher acceptance rates.

Nonetheless, you should split your application short-list into two groups: early admission and regular admission.  Disregard your concerns about acceptance based on GPA or the school’s selectivity and high standing.  And don’t give a second thought to affordability or financial aid.  Use the first round to apply to the schools you really want to go to if no constraining issues exist.  You can suss out the financial details or the distance your putting between you and Mom’s beef stroganoff if or when you get accepted.

And regardless, you should use both early and regular admission.  Overall, you should apply to 6-8 schools if you are applying to 4-year universities.  Pick some elite universities, and leave the rest to reasonable choices.  Apply to half of them for early admission, save the latter half for the early spring.  Your strategy is to carry on your education.  Your tactics are to work the system that exists.

But, always, always, always use the early admission application for your first choices—the schools you are most definitive about.  Your chances, quite simply, are better.  There are fewer applicants, and universities over-accept to compensate for the number of early-admission students who choose other universities.

And since it’s a numbers game, you’re going to want to put a little extra elbow grease into these applications.  The admissions committee receives upwards of ten times fewer applications during this period.  Ergo, your app is going to get more scrutiny.  Work this to your advantage, and do as one should: put on that awesome face and get awesome.

Tags: admission, application, college, early admission, high school, university