By Danny Nessim

For some of the 204 seniors who applied early action or decision, they nervously pressed the submit button for their online application in the days leading to Nov. 1, the early application deadline.  While some submitted their applications before the deadline, Nov. 2 was a chance to breathe. For these early applicants, the first part of the process is over.
 
They survived.

Melanie turned in her early application for Stanford a week before the deadline. She submitted rolling applications for the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan.

A rolling school does not have a set day to inform applicants of their decision. Instead, decisions are sent out gradually, starting with the first applications submitted. The earlier an application is submitted to a rolling school, the earlier the applicant will learn of their decision and the greater chance of admittance.

If Melanie gets into Stanford, she will only apply to the University of Pennsylvania, her other first choice, through regular decision. If she does not get in to Stanford, she has added Cornell, Northwestern and Emory.

“I had the really selective amazing schools on my list that I probably won’t get into, ­and I had the schools that I probably will get into,” she said.

“I wanted to add schools that were a little easier to get into than Stanford and Penn, but I would still be happy at.”

Eli sent in his applications for every school he is applying to as of now. He is still considering applying to the University of California system.

“I just want to hear from the places now,” he said.

Judy first thought Berkeley was her first choice, then she added Tulane, but now she has made up her mind on her new first choice: Villanova.

Berkeley is no longer one of her top choices because she realized that she wants to go to college outside of California.

She dropped Tulane because “it’s not quite back to normal and safe in New Orleans.”

Villanova, located in a Philadelphia suburb, was always on her list, but not at the top. A college counselor she hired in addition to her dean advised her to learn more about the school.

“I found out that it had all of the things I want,” she said.

She insists she won’t change her mind again now that she’s found a school with the right size, a diverse student body and school spirit.

Judy did not apply anywhere early, and she has not yet completed any of her applications that are due in January.

Rick was ahead of the curve and submitted his early application to Yale University in October.  In addition, he sent a CD with musical recordings as an optional arts supplement. The Yale Admissions Office will also consider the CD when reviewing his application.