Applying to College

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, college hopefuls submitted a total of more than 13 million applications to higher education institutions in the fall of 2023. That means that if you’re planning to apply to college and are unsure of where to begin, you’re not alone. Scholarships.com has the information you need to feel confident in applying to college— learn more below.

Jump to:

• When to apply to college
  
  
  • Regular Decision
  • Early Action
  • Early Decision
  • Rolling admissions
  • Other admission types
• How to apply to college
  
  
  • Common Application
  • Individual applications
  • FAFSA
  • Additional steps
• College admission
  
  
  • Accepted
  • Rejected
  • Waitlisted
  • Deferred
• Frequently asked questions about applying to college

When to apply to college

Most students apply to college in the winter of their senior year of high school; the exact dates vary based on the application type and the college in question. There are also nontraditional students who apply in later stages of life. Here are the main types of application timelines you’ll encounter when applying to college.

Regular Decision

Regular Decision applications are the standard of the college admissions process. The deadline for Regular Decision applications is usually in the beginning of January. Applying this way means that you’ll receive your admissions decision sometime in mid-spring, typically in March, and you will have the choice to enroll or not enroll upon your acceptance.

Early Action

Students who want to get ahead on their college applications and who have a decent idea of what schools they might want to attend might choose to apply Early Action. Early Action deadlines typically land in late fall, around November; like Regular Decision, students who apply this way may choose whether or not to enroll upon their acceptance.

Early Decision

Early Decision applications are different from Early Action and Regular Decision because when students apply this way, their admissions decision is binding. That means that if you apply Early Decision to a college and are accepted, you are required to enroll there. Students who are certain about what school they want to attend can apply this way for a greater chance of being admitted; deadlines typically fall alongside Early Action deadlines in November.

Rolling admissions

Some colleges admit students on a rolling basis, meaning that there are no set application deadlines. This option is especially valuable for nontraditional and adult students, who may not organize their lives around the semester-based high school calendar; if you need more flexibility in your application schedule, rolling admissions may be a good choice for you.

Other admission types

Transfer students, those who take gap years, and others who are thinking about college outside of the typical timeline can absolutely apply. Many colleges offer spring term admissions for those who wish to begin their college careers in the spring semester rather than the fall; for more options, you can contact the admissions offices at your schools of interest. Remember that no matter what, it is never too late to apply to college.

How to apply to college

While every college has different application requirements, there are some basic consistencies among them, such as typical meeting requirements, documents to submit, and sometimes even deadlines. Here are some steps you may need to take in your application process.

Common Application

More and more colleges use the Common Application each year, which allows students to centralize all their college applications. Via the Common App, students fill out just one basic application for all participating colleges they select, then submit supplemental materials based on each individual school’s requirements.

Basic application materials on the Common App include your demographics, your academic records, and your college essay; sometimes you’ll be required to provide letters of recommendation (LORs), which your recommenders can securely upload and submit through the Common App platform. Additional essays and records may be required depending on what schools you apply to.

Individual applications

Some institutions do not accept Common Application submissions; they instead have their own application platforms and guidelines. It’s important to check the websites of your colleges of interest prior to applying to determine what steps you will need to take in order to do so. You can submit the Common Application to participating colleges and also submit individual applications to other universities— they are not mutually exclusive.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, is a critical document for those hoping to attend college. To complete the FAFSA, students must submit their tax information, as well as that of their guardians and any dependents they may have. This allows the government to evaluate whether or not the student will qualify for federal aid, such as Pell grants and student loans.

Completing the FAFSA does not require you to take out any student loans— it just measures your eligibility for them. For this reason, it’s a good idea to submit the FAFSA regardless of your financial status. Because the document takes time to fill out and process, you should begin your FAFSA far in advance of its deadline and be sure to submit it on time.

Additional steps

There are many other steps you may need to take in order to apply to college. For instance, if you’re planning to major in music, you may need to audition for your place in the program. Art students may need to submit creative portfolios. Some colleges require applicants to interview with admissions counselors; selective schools, like Ivy Leagues, are known for their rigorous interview processes.

Most importantly, though, you should apply for scholarships while you are applying to college. You may need to complete and submit the CSS Profile, which determines your eligibility for institutional financial aid at certain colleges. Looking for external scholarships, such as those listed on Scholarships.com, is also a great way to earn money for school. Create a free account to match with the best scholarships for you.

College admission

Once you’ve completed all your college applications, it’s time to wait for your admissions decisions. Most schools inform you of your status within a month or 2 of the application deadline, but it depends on the school and the type of application you submitted. See the “When to apply to college” section for more information.

Typically, you’ll get the news via an email from the college and an update in their online admissions portal; you may also receive a physical letter in your mail. Below are some of the decisions you may receive and what each of them means.

Accepted

An admissions decision of “accepted” means that you have been admitted into the university or program for which you applied. Congratulations! Details about your financial aid package should soon follow. You may be connected with a network of other admitted students as well. Unless you applied Early Decision, being accepted to a particular college does not require you to attend that college. You’ll choose whether or not to enroll by the commitment deadline.

Rejected

An admissions decision of “rejected” means that, unfortunately, you will not be permitted to enroll at the college to which you applied— at least, not right now. Typically, a college rejection covers only the particular term for which you applied; for instance, if you applied to enroll for the upcoming fall semester, you can re-apply in the upcoming winter for the next year’s term. Rejections are disappointing, but don’t give up. There are many other options available if you are rejected from college.

Waitlisted

An admissions decision of “waitlisted” means that you have been placed in a queue for acceptance; if enough accepted students choose not to enroll at the college for which you have been waitlisted, you may be able to claim one of their spots. While being waitlisted does not mean you have been rejected from college, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be able to attend, either; be sure to have a backup plan in case a spot doesn’t open up for you.

Deferred

You will only receive an admissions decision of “deferred” if you have applied to college Early Action or Early Decision. “Deferred” means that your application has been pushed back for consideration along with the Regular Decision pool; in effect, rather than an immediate acceptance or rejection, a deferral sets your application aside for later. You’ll receive your official admissions decision— one of the 3 listed above— when Regular Decision letters are sent out.

Frequently asked questions about applying to college

How many colleges should I apply to?

There’s no particular number of college applications you should send out, but applying to multiple schools is always a good idea. Most students apply to 1 or 2 “safety schools”— colleges whose acceptance rates and requirements are such that acceptance is almost guaranteed— plus a few mid-range options and 2 or 3 top-choice schools. Some students apply to lots of colleges; Scholarships.com scholarship winner Muhammad Ali applied to 26.

If your dream school is highly selective, like an Ivy League, or if its average financial aid package is small, it’s especially important for you to apply to multiple colleges as a backup plan and apply for external scholarships to cover tuition. By all means, keep your hopes high, but it’s a good idea to be prepared to change your plans if the circumstances change.

Does it cost money to apply to college?

Most U.S. colleges charge students an application fee to apply. Application fees can be small or large, with universities like Harvard charging up to $90 per application. The Common Application is free to use, but schools that support it may still charge their own application fees through the platform. It may also cost money for you to send your transcripts or standardized test scores to colleges if you choose to apply to multiple schools.

However, not all schools charge an application fee— and those that do also tend to offer fee waivers for students with financial need. You may automatically qualify for an application fee waiver based on the information you supply in the Common App, or you may need to contact the college directly. It is always worth asking for a waiver, even if you are unsure whether you will qualify.

Do I have to write essays to apply to college?

Most 4-year colleges require students to submit at least 1 essay with their applications. The Common Application is known for its essay prompts, a response to which is required by many participating schools. These essays focus on your experiences as a student and person; as of Fall 2025, they have a maximum word count of 300.

In addition to the Common App essay, you may be required to write additional essays depending on the colleges to which you are applying. Many schools require “Why Us?” essays and supplemental responses about your academic interests and involvement. A great way to practice your essay-writing is to apply for essay-based scholarships; you could build up your skills and earn tuition money at the same time.

Can you apply Early Decision to multiple colleges?

An Early Decision application is contractually binding, meaning that if you are accepted into a college to which you applied Early Decision, you are obligated to enroll there; part of the Early Decision application process involves your signature on a legal document to make your intent to enroll official.

Therefore, for obvious reasons, you cannot apply Early Decision to more than one college. If you are heavily considering multiple top-choice colleges and want to apply early, you can apply Early Action to receive earlier admissions decisions without an obligation to enroll.

What do I do if I don’t get into college?

No matter what colleges you’ve applied to, a rejection letter is disappointing. If you aren’t accepted to your top-choice college, it’s okay to be upset, but take the rejection with respect. You can still attend and enjoy college at a second-choice school or a safety school— you might even be able to transfer into or attend graduate school at a college from which you were initially rejected.

Even if you aren’t accepted to any college at all, you still have many options to continue your education. You can apply to your local community college, as their acceptance rates are often essentially 100 percent. You could also apply for a job or an internship to save money and gain experience while waiting for the next application period to open, then apply again; you could also pursue a trade education, an apprenticeship, or certifications in hands-on fields. Rejection is not the same as failure. Doing your best is valuable regardless of where it gets you.