Act now! Or don’t.

It’s early October. Do you know when your applications are due?

Around this time of year, there tends to be a lot of confusion about exactly when to apply to college. Early action, early decision, early decision 2, regular decision, rolling decision, early admission, single choice early action … Ugh! Stop the madness!

Now, the good news.

Most of you will apply “regular decision,” which means your applications are likely not due until January 1. Whew. You still have time. How will you make the most of these next three months? Be certain to nail down your college list, ask your teachers for letters of recommendation and get your essays started – if you haven’t already done so.

But some of you are ahead of the game; you’re applying to at least one college through another deadline. Take early decision, for example. An early decision application is likely due on November 1 or 15, which means you’ve got about three more weeks to get your application submitted.

The advantages of early decision are two-fold: most colleges admit a higher percentage of early decision applicants than regular decision; and, if you’re admitted early decision, you’ll know where you’re going to college in December, instead of next April.

Another popular option is rolling decision, found at public colleges. You apply as early as September or October, all the way through December or January, and then colleges generally make decisions on applications within four weeks. Some colleges will tell you that decision, and some wait a few more months, since they first want to see what your senior grades look like.

If you’re ready to apply – via early action, early decision or rolling decision – you might want to click “submit” and just apply! If you’re not ready, that’s okay too, as long as you are diligent over the next few months in putting your applications together.