The early bird gets the acceptance letter

When college application season comes along, many students participate in the rolling admission process, which allows a big time gap for them to apply to colleges. Some colleges allow prospective students to apply the summer before their senior year and receive feedback about their admittance three weeks later.

Students who apply over the summer get feedback before senior year begins.

“A lot of schools in the south go back much earlier, before Labor Day,” Career Center Specialist Alice Robertson said. “It’s been that way for a number of years. It only makes sense for them to open admissions earlier.”

Some of the more popular schools that include this program are the University of Alabama, Coastal Carolina University and the University of Mississippi.

“I haven’t heard yet, but I have submitted some applications. I am just waiting now.” senior Adam LaBrecque said. “I am applying to Alabama, LSU, Kentucky. I just want to get out of Virginia.”

A big difference with some of these colleges and universities compared to Virginia schools is that they do not require teacher recommendations or essays with the basic applications, such as the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama.

“The applications are typically shorter,” Robertson said. “They just require transcripts and test scores. It’s just pure academic review.”

Like some schools in the south, the University of Alabama opens admissions July 1 before senior year starts. The sooner someone applies, the sooner they hear back. For the University of Alabama and other universities as well, students do not need to let the school know if they plan on attending until May 1.

“Letting us know sooner than May 1 gives students an advantage if they decide to attend,” University of Alabama representative Elizabeth Dugas said. “Students get a better chance at getting the type of dorm they want by letting us know earlier.”

Each school is unique with what they want in the application. While some are similar in the requirements, they are not all the same.

“Essay requirements really depend on your school,” senior Bailey Shaffer said. “Alabama is my only one that doesn’t require essays or teacher recommendations.”

College, college applications, early acceptance, rolling admission Academics, Issue 1, Print