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Early Decision & Early Action: What You Need to Know
If you are a senior in high school, you are most likely in
the final stages of narrowing your college apply list. You may have noticed
that some colleges offer early action and early decision deadlines. Before you
decide on a decision plan, it is important to understand the benefits and
disadvantages of early applications.
Here are some frequently asked questions about early action and early
decision:
What is the
difference between early action and early decision?
Early action applications are typically due in early
November or December, and students get an admission decision as early as the
third week of December. However, students may still apply to other colleges on
an early action and regular decision basis, and they decide where they want to
matriculate once they receive all of the admission decisions by April 1. Early
decision (ED), however, is binding. If a student applies ED, they sign a
contract committing to the school. This contact cannot be broken except
sometimes in the case of a student not receiving enough financial aid from the
college.
What are the
advantages of early action and early decision?
It can be a relief for students to apply early action and
find out before the holidays that they have been admitted to one school. One
former client has this advice for seniors, "Apply to an EA school where you
think you will get in and that you like. You will have one application out of
the way, plus it will force you to have your essay done by November, which is
very important!"
For early decision, some colleges and universities admit a
larger percentage of applicants in the early pool than in the regular applicant
pool. As a result, it can sometimes be slightly less competitive to get
admitted if you apply early decision. Of course, you must fall within the
academic profile of typically admitted students and be a viable candidate.
What are the
disadvantages of applying early action or early decision?
At certain colleges such as Boston College, applying early
action can be more competitive since they hold early applicants to a higher
standard than those in the regular applicant pool. Therefore, it is important
to carefully review the college's early policies on the website and to call or
email the admissions office with any questions.
The risks for early decision are that sometimes students
decide to apply ED for the wrong reasons. Students who are stressed by the
burden of completing applications sometimes see ED as way to get an answer fast
and get the process over with. However, since students do not receive a
decision until two weeks before most other college deadlines, they leave
themselves very little time to complete other applications if the decision from
the ED school is a disappointing one. (This is why we require our clients to
complete all other applications by early December so they are ready to submit
at the tap of a button if necessary.) For some students, applying ED narrows
their options too early. Many seniors report that they changed their
perspectives about colleges more than they anticipated between fall and spring
of senior year. Those that have applied ED and get admitted must withdraw all
other applications and commit to the ED school. Sometimes students get "buyer's
remorse" and wish they had not committed to one option so early. Students must
be absolutely sure that their ED school is the only place for them, and that
they cannot imagine themselves anywhere else. If they cannot do this, then ED
is not the right option.
The effect on aid awards is another disadvantage. Unless you
are accepted into a college that guarantees to meet financial need with grants
instead of loans, you risk getting a poor financial aid package or little merit
money when you apply ED. While this is not the case at all colleges, less
wealthy institutions have little incentive to award grants to a student if they
are committed to coming anyway. In short, ED is sometimes only an option for
those who can afford to pay a significant percentage or even the full cost of
attendance.
I am an athlete and
the coach wants me to apply early decision. What should I do?
It is true that many college coaches are trying to fill out
their rosters. In return for a commitment to recommend you to the admissions
office, they want you to commit to their program by applying early decision. If
you decide not to do so, then you risk the coach no longer being interested in
you for his team come April. Again, you need to be sure that you like the
school to apply ED, however, if playing your sport in college is very important
to you then you might have to go the early decision route, provided that you
are offered the financial aid for which you are eligible.
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All Acting, All Singing, All Dancing: The College Admissions Audition
Even for the most seasoned performer, an audition can be
daunting. When added to the already stressful college admissions process,
admissions auditions, often used at universities with competitive programs in
dance, drama, and music, can seem like an insurmountable and sometimes
confusing challenge. To help you navigate this complicated process, we've
gotten advice from Laura Skaug, a professor at the Theatre and Dance Department
at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, and Halley Shefler, a consultant at The
Arts Edge and the Dean of Admissions at Boston Conservatory. Here is what they
had to say:
Choose Your Material Wisely
Many theatre auditions ask that you prepare two contrasting
monologues that are under a certain time limit (usually two to three minutes).
While this might seem straightforward, there are a number of things to consider
when selecting a piece. The two monologues you choose should be:
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Age
(and gender) appropriate. Both Laura and Halley cautioned against selecting
monologues that are obviously meant for a much more mature performer or are
meant for someone of the opposite gender. If you are a girl, selecting a
monologue for Romeo from Romeo and Juliet or Orsino from Twelfth
Night is a risky idea.
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Adhere
to the stated time limits. Laura notes, "No school will ever be upset if you
are under time but because audition days are often long if you go long it can
be a disadvantage." While you may have only a few minutes onstage alone,
auditions are an endurance test for the evaluators.
-
Well-written.
Halley suggests starting with Shakespeare or Moliere when looking for classical
pieces, and Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, William Inge, and
Sam Shepard for modern, post-war pieces.
When considering monologues, you should also take the time to read each
school's audition information. Oftentimes, schools will give specific
information on selecting a piece, including things they don't want to
see. Schools like Marymount Manhattan
even offer a list of suggested monologues and monologues to
avoid.
Practice, Practice, Practice
While practice might not make perfect, it is a key to having
a successful audition. Besides determining the length of your pieces,
rehearsing lets you get a better sense of the monologues and allows you to
figure out how to play it in front of an audience. You should also consider
rehearsing with your drama teacher or fellow drama students. Not only will this
give you the opportunity to practice in front of an audience, but getting
additional notes and critiques also can help you improve your performance and
delivery.
Besides practicing your monologues or songs, you should also
be familiar with their context and how they fit within the larger work. Not
only might this come up during your audition or interview, but it also is
obvious when a student knows the monologue but does not understand how it fits
within the play as a whole. Halley says, "Too often, students come in and they
have no idea what the story is about and what they are singing about." In this
vein, Laura advises against using monologue books, since they are "the first
place inexperienced actors go to look for material" and they can contain pieces
that are overdone. Instead, students should discuss appropriate monologues with
their drama teacher and, in particular, consider monologues from plays in which
they have previously played roles.
Be Ready for the Unexpected
Admissions auditions can be unpredictable, and each college
runs them differently. In some cases, you may be asked to do some improvisation
work by yourself or with other students, or the professors in attendance might
give you some direction regarding your monologues and ask you to perform them
again. If you are auditioning for a musical theatre program, the auditions
usually include a dance or movement workshop. Some schools, such as New York
University, have an interview in addition to the audition. Be prepared to go
with the flow and participate in anything that is asked of you.
Come Prepared
Although the audition process can be unpredictable, a little research
can give you some idea of what to expect or at least help prepare you for
whatever might happen. Prior to the audition, look up each of your school's
audition websites to see if there are any specifics on the audition process.
New York University's Tisch School of the Arts
gives clear guidelines of what to expect on audition day.
In general, you should come to auditions with:
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A
performing arts resume
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A
clear photograph of you (a headshot is ideal)
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A
clean copy of your monologues
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A
copy of your sheet music in the proper key
-
Appropriate
attire for a movement workshop (especially if you have a dance audition)
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A
bottle of water
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A
good attitude
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Lots
of focused energy - some auditions can last several hours
Have Fun
Laura's most important piece of advice for students who are
auditioning is to "Go into the audition as if there is no place else in the
world they would rather be. It's OK to be nervous but if it feels like they
don't want to be there it shows!"
Halley Shefler of The Arts Edge conducts audition workshops and rehearsals for students. For more information, contact her at info@theartsedge.com.
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Juniors: It Isn't Too Early To Start Thinking About College
We
are now enrolling juniors for college planning. With a range of
different services and packages, we strive to offer the support you
need during the college application and admission process. Call us at
617-734-3700 for more details. |
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Educational Advocates
1678 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02445
617-734-3700
Joan Kelleher Casey, President
jcasey@educationaladvocates.com
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Newsletter editorial staff:
Joan Casey
Terri Suico |
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