Early Decision deadlines are, well… earlier. We’re talking early November here. Acceptances (and rejections) are also earlier and usually come out by the end of December. Yay! Some good old-fashioned rejection, just in time for Christmas! Thanks, Santa!

Some schools have a second Early Decision deadline that comes after the first, but before the regular decision deadline. Ah well. Better later than early than never. As the saying goes. We think.

Your application will get stuck under the noses of admissions officers sooner, but your chances of acceptance are not necessarily better. 

Early decision applicants do usually have a slight edge, but you have to keep in mind that the early applicant pool is also much stronger than the regular decision pool. You’re going to be thrown in with all the other go-getters. But don’t let that dissuade you. Just… go get ‘em.

Either way, you’ll know the decision in time to celebrate (or weep) for New Year’s, which will give you extra time to work out housing options and think about what classes you want to enroll in. It might also give you the chance to make a New Year’s Resolution to never let your future children enroll at Purdue. Those jerks. How could they not see your potential?

You are obligated to enroll if you are accepted. Obligated does not merely mean “encouraged.” If you get accepted, you’d better get your buns there. Or they will send someone to escort your buns personally.

Okay, they probably won’t go that far. But if you withdraw other applications and send in your deposit… you kind of need to be sure here. There’s no turning back. You also won’t have an opportunity to compare financial aid packages from a number of schools, so if you are really dependent on financial aid, think hard about this option. You’re much too young to be selling your kidney on the black market.

• Early Action deadlines vary, but generally fall in November, whichmay add stress to your holiday season. Just to keep things in perspective, though, it’s going to be much more stressful for all the turkeys.

• Most applicants will hear back from schools about Early Actiondecisions by the end of December. There's also something called single-choice early action, which is a program that asks you to only apply early to that college and to no others. A little possessive, if you ask us. But hey, it’s between those colleges and their psychiatrists.

• Some schools also have a second Early Action deadline that comesafter the first, but before the regular decision deadline. Might want to throw those dates into your calendar. The old melon ain’t what it used to be.

If Early Decision is a 10 on the stress-o-meter, Early Action, which doesn’t have the added pressure of the required commitment, is around an 8. Basically, you won’t need to withdraw other applications if you get accepted. Also, if accepted, you can wait until May 1st to respond. May Day! May Day!

Familiar with the term “contingency plan?” Plan A is always nice, but sometimes life hands you a few lemons, and you get stuck with Plan B. Unless you don’t have a Plan B, in which case, you’re probably going to get stuck with Plan Live in Your Parents’ Basement. That should be like Plan W… minimum.

You will find out if you got in to your dreamy dream school two weeks before the deadline for most Regular Applications, so we recommend you work on your other applications just in case you don't get in. At the very least, it’ll give you something to do so you don’t spend all your time chewing your fingernails off.

And don’t be like Jonny Slackoff (it’s Slavic). Jonny had everything going for him. 3.7 GPA, half-ride to Purdue… but he came down with a bad, bad case of senioritis. Not something his doctor was able to do anything about. Stopped showing up for class, homework was turned in with nothing more than doodles and his girlfriend’s name written in various fonts. Those guys from Purdue caught wind of his declining performance and turned that half-ride into a… no-ride. Whoops.

You are one of the 99%. Get your picket signs ready.

Regular Decision deadlines can fall anywhere between November through March, with the majority of them in January and February. That’s right – it’s gonna be snowin’ deadlines up in heah!

Colleges will usually let you know their decision by around March 15, so beware the Ides…

No pressure here. Phew. There is no obligation to enroll in any school that accepts you with a regular decision application. Plus, you get an extra few months to work on your application. And your tan.

You’ll be applying with all of the other Regular Decision Joe Shmoes, so the competition for remaining spaces is tougher. But you thrive on competition, or you… would have applied earlier.

Make sure you do it before there isn't any space...

• Depending on when you apply, you'll be notified of a decision before many of your other deadlines. This is a biggie, because deadlines suck. Not as much as flat lines, but still… they’re up there.

• If you're accepted, this leeway allows you to plan things such as financial aid, housing, classes… and that Yale tattoo… earlier. It also allows you to weigh other options, such as whether you should apply to other schools.If you aren't accepted, it gives you time to apply to other colleges as well. Trust us – once MIT sees you picnicking in the park with Wesleyan, having the time of your life… they are so going to regret their decision.

Rolling admissions may make you feel freer than a bird in flight… but it doesn't mean that you should neglect college applications until the very last minute. Especially if you spot a guy in a duck blind wearing a camo vest. Keep clear of that gentleman.

Sometimes applying early increases your chances of getting accepted, so don't put it off. We know you’ve listed “putting things off” under your special skills, but now isn’t the time to demonstrate it.