Number of Early Decision Applicants Grows at CHS

The following article first appeared in the April 2010 edition of The Columbian. It was written by Ruby Scalera, CHS '10.

As college decisions arrived in the mail, Columbia High School seniors experienced anticipation, happiness, and in some cases, disappointment. However, there are those students who had already heard back from their top schools. These seniors applied either early decision or early action and received answers from their college of choice by mid-December. While it is not unusual for students to apply early, this year there has been an unprecedented rise in the numbers of early applicants over any years previous, both at CHS and across the country.

"Historically," said Guidance Department Director Dr. Jennifer Giordano, "It is usually the top 10 percent of the class you see applying early, and that has remained constant. What has changed this year is that you are seeing students that are outside that group, the top 25 to 30 percent, not only applying to the Ivy or Tier One schools, but other schools that offer the option."

Jeremy Schatten, CHS '10, an early action applicant of Goucher College, said, "Being enrolled in a school while other people are still waiting to hear back is truly exhilarating. I found a school that I loved, and I wanted to be enrolled as soon as possible, so that it would be more real." He will be attending Goucher next year as part of the class of 2014.

For those students that get accepted early decision or early action, it is a win-win situation. Elise Mitchell, '10, an accepted early applicant to the University of Pennsylvania, said, "Knowing for sure where I will be next year has enabled me to make contact with professors in the departments I am interested in, meet other members of my class and visit Penn as an accepted student before the rush in April." She added, "Being accepted early may have had a positive effect on my schoolwork. I had more time on my hands because I wasn't stressing over applications."

It is difficult to place the reason for this sudden rise in early applications. According to Ben Brown, '10, "Applying early is a great way to court your first choice school. I knew that my top choice would be more or less a reach for me, so I wanted that extra edge in the admissions process."

There are other reasons, too, as many students commit to certain schools because of sports or apply early because of legacy. It also offers a chance for students to view their options when it comes to financial aid. Dr. Giordano said, "It could be self-motivated or family motivated as well, with parents encouraging it because they want their children to have peace of mind, but also so they can help with the planning."

Whether it is a student motivated process or one brought about by parental pressure, early application seems to have positive results. "The deferral made me work harder," said Brown. "I wanted to turn in a solid first semester transcript to show all my schools that I am still the same student I have been across high school."