While November 1 is a high anxiety date typically associated with seniors rushing to submit college applications, not all students follow that path. Whether it be the desire to increase grades before applying, retaking tests, visiting colleges or other motivations, some seniors choose to bide their time before getting their applications in.
One of these students is Urania Meyers ’25, who is holding off on applying so that she can thoroughly research where she can find a good fit.
“My main motivation for applying regular decision is because, in a way, it is a lot less stressful,” Meyers said. “I have more time to work on essays, and do research on the schools I want to go to so my applications will be as strong as possible when the time comes to apply.”
Meyers, who has ambitious college goals such as Northwestern University, believes that applying regular decision boosts her chances of getting accepted.
“Applying later gives me more faith that my application will impress the way I want it to,” Meyers said. “There’s also the fact that people who are in the second pool of applicants at a school like Northwestern have a higher chance of getting in, which is why I need more time to make my application stand out.”
Counselor Nicholas Bernbeck thinks an approach such as this can be smart for some students.
“A common incentive for the students who apply regular decision is so that they can make their
application stronger, and space out work on their application with school and life while getting what they need to across to colleges,” Bernbeck said.
Another student taking this course of action is John Klepp. Unlike Meyers, Klepp has found applying later more stressful and originally had not intended to apply regular decision. However, he is motivated by his desire to make an informed final decision.
“I was late to do some of the work involved in applying to college so I have had to move some of my applications to regular decision, which at least lets me go and visit some of the campuses,” Klepp said. “It is stressful to hear your friends who have already submitted their applications. If I had to do over again, I think I definitely would have done early action to get it out of the way, but at least this way I have more time to see where I truly want to go.”
While Klepp and Meyers have had different experiences with the regular decision process, they have both been determined to take advantage of the opportunity to properly inform there decision.
“It’s very important to me to do this extensive research,” Meyers said. “It gives me a better chance to find the right place.”
