Important Implications of the Early Decision Trends

In looking at some early data on Early Decision trends, it is vitally important that I take a minute and describe what I am seeing and the implications I am hypothesizing. For those who do not know, Early Decision is an application type that allows students to apply "early" and receive a decision early.  However, Early Decision differs in the fact that if students are accepted, they must attend.  This becomes particularly tricky because of cost.  Early Decision applications require a signed "contract" with parent, student, and guidance counselor acknowledging that they understand the implications even if the financial aid package is not what the family desires. In other words, families that are not full pay applicants, have to exude extreme caution when thinking about using Early Decision as a method of applying.

What has become a widely spread trend is colleges and universities filling more and more of their class with early decision applicants.  For example, this year, Duke and Brown filled approximately 50% of their class with early decision applicants.  This in turn makes the regular decision applicant at a huge disadvantage because there are so many applicants vying for so few spots. Boston College added Early Decision this year, but two rounds of it.  In other words, there are two different dates to apply Early Decision to Boston College.  If they accept as many students in Early Decision 2, as they did Early Decision 1, then Boston College will also fill over 50% of the class before they even look at a regular decision applicant. 

I will be spending the next 9-12 months doing a deep dive into the world of early decision.  The implications for this pattern are widespread.  Students who may have had a realistic shot at attaining acceptance at many selective schools with a regular decision application, now need to view these colleges and universities as reaches.

This is also why it is vital to apply to range of schools: confident, realistic, and reach. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's counselor at any time. I am always hear to help as well.

Standardized Tests

Photo: cnn.com

As we enter the winter season, we focus on practice test review and future test registration.  If your sophomore student took the Pre-ACT this past October, the results were mailed home two weeks ago.  If for some reason you have not received it, please come to CHS Guidance and we can photocopy the result report we have on file. In addition, on Monday, November 25th, we passed out Pre-ACT booklets to students in their US1 History classes.  If for some reason your student was absent that day, come pick up the test booklet in our office.

Now that you have the results, and you have the actual test booklet back, what do you do with it?

First, start a binder that is going to contain all of your college preparation materials.  Put it somewhere in your home where both student and parent/guardian can access it easily.  Next, spend some time going over the questions that were marked incorrect using the answer key in the test result booklet.  Even though questions change, student performance will not improve unless they learn from the questions they got wrong.  Once that is complete, watch the video below.  It gives you step by step directions on how to use your Pre-ACT scores in ACT Academy so that it produces a practice program to prepare the student for the ACT in junior year.

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Lastly, on Thursday, December 12th, at 7:45 am in the library, the CHS Guidance Counselors will be hosting a Coffee with Counselors to discuss PSAT and Pre-ACT results.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Please also note that PSAT score reports have not been sent back to CHS from College Board yet. As soon as they are here, we will put them in the mail to you.