There's Still Plenty Of Time To Apply To College
Even if you missed early deadlines, there’s still plenty of time… through ED II, Regular Decision, and rolling admissions… to apply thoughtfully and confidently to a wide range of colleges.
I’ve been heads-down helping this year’s seniors meet early application deadlines.
But, even if you missed these - even if you haven’t started your applications yet - know that there is still plenty of time to apply to college.
Most colleges are still accepting applications well into winter and even spring.
Yes, many ED/EA (that’s Early Decision and Early Action) deadlines are in late Oct/early Nov.
No, that doesn’t mean options are gone.
There are at least three more big chances to apply.
1. More Early Application Dates (in early January)
A quick recap:
Early Decision (EDI, EDII). These are binding: if admitted, you enroll and withdraw other apps. Colleges like ED because it helps them manage yield and build their class early. Yield is the % of admitted students who actually enroll. Believe it or not, even Harvard has more than 15% of admitted students choose to enroll elsewhere (most colleges are below 50% yield).
Early Action (EA). Earlier deadline, earlier decision (you hear back sooner, typically in December or early January). Decisions are non-binding, and you have more time to make up your mind about where to go.
Now because Early Decision is binding, you can only apply to one ED college at a time. And what if you don’t get admitted? Well, some colleges have realised this is an opportunity :), and so they offer a second chance to apply Early Decision, called EDII. In other words, you applied to College_A EDI, didn’t get in, but now have the opportunity to apply EDII at a College_B. EDII dates happen after students should have heard back from EDI and on/before the Regular Decision deadline.
Examples of schools that offer EDII include NYU (EDII: 1/1/2026), Boston College (EDII: 1/2/2026), Scripps College (EDII: 1/8/2026), Whitman College in my home state of Washington (EDII: 1/10/2026), and Tulane University (EDII: 1/15/2026).
Pro tip: I use the features in the Common App to find these deadlines. Choose ‘College Search’, then ‘Application Requirements’, and then sort the list by EDII.
2. Regular Decision (Mostly January, Some February)
Regular Decision is still the main path into many colleges, including very selective ones. For most students, this is where the bulk of the admissions action happens.
You apply by a winter deadline (often around January 1–15, sometimes as late as early February).
Decisions are released in March or early April.
You can compare offers and financial aid packages before committing by May 1.
You still have months - literally - until these deadlines, so plenty of time to complete your Common App essay, get a letter of recommendation or two from a teacher, and submit your application.
3: Rolling Admission & Late Deadlines (Spring… and Sometimes Summer)
Some schools review applications as they arrive and keep admitting students into late spring, sometimes summer. Space fills over time. Earlier is better, but there is still a path usually late into spring.
Some very big name, nationally known schools often admit students well into spring: Penn State University, Arizona State University, and even Washington State University in my home state.
Important Fine Print: Deadlines Beyond “Just” the Application
Now, the one caution I will callout is that there can be other deadlines beyond the application, most notably around scholarships and financial aid. And, high-demand majors (nursing, engineering, business) can sometimes fill up before final application cut-off. And, on some campuses earlier admission -> earlier housing choice (better odds for first-choice dorms).
So, if you have the opportunity to apply earlier in the year that’s better. Don’t wait just because you don’t see a posted deadline.
Build your calendar around the earliest date you can get your apps complete and turned in, not just the last possible date to apply.
But the bottom line is that between ED II, Regular Decision, and rolling admission, there is still plenty of time, and plenty of choice, for you to put together a thoughtful, well-researched college list and submit strong applications.