Guides
Straight answers to the questions everyone has about applying. Short answer first, details after.
- Testing Which colleges require the SAT or ACT for fall 2027? Every selective college's testing rule for fall 2027 entry, required, optional, test-blind or depending on your major, with a link to each college's own page.
- Paying for college How do I tell what a college will really cost? Skip the sticker price. Here's how to find what families like yours paid after grants, and the three numbers that show whether a college is affordable.
- Building your list How do I build a balanced college list? Sort your colleges into likely, target and reach, keep reaches to about a third, and include one you know you can afford. Here's how to sort yours.
- First in your family First in your family to go to college? Start here What first-generation students should look for in a college, the words that confuse everyone, and the free help most families don't know exists.
- Transferring Thinking about transferring? What to check first Transfer admission runs on its own rules and deadlines. Here are the four things to check before you apply to transfer.
- Sports Want to keep playing in college? How to pick Division I, II, III or club: what changes for your schedule, your classes and your odds of making a team, and the questions to ask coaches.
- Arts Into art, music, theater or film? What to look for Most college data skips what creative students care about. Here's what to check: portfolios, auditions, studio access and whether non-majors get in.
- Support Will I get support at college? What to check How to check a college's disability services, counseling and identity-based support before you apply: named staff, wait times and how to get accommodations.
- Decisions Acceptances are in. How do I choose? Compare aid offers line by line, keep two options until you're sure, and know the May 1 deposit deadline. Here's how to decide.
- Applying early Colleges with a November 15, 2026 deadline Early decision and early action deadlines on Nov 15, 2026, each checked on the college's own site, plus Amherst on Nov 9 and what's due Dec 1.
- Testing Test-optional and test-blind colleges for fall 2027 94 selective colleges are test-optional for fall 2027 and 7 don't look at scores at all. Every rule checked on the college's own site.
- Paying for college CSS Profile deadlines for fall 2027, college by college Your CSS Profile is due when each college says, often with your application. Checked aid deadlines for 19 colleges, plus fees and waivers.
- Applying early Early decision acceptance rates at 97 colleges, from their own reports ED vs overall admit rates at 97 colleges, from each college's own Common Data Set. Mostly fall 2025 entrants. Full table and free CSV.
- Decisions College waitlist acceptance rates at 126 colleges How many waitlisted students got in at 126 colleges, from their own Common Data Sets. Median: 8.8% of those who stayed. Free CSV.
- Applying early Early decision vs early action, with real admit rates ED is binding and EA isn't. What ED did to admit rates at 97 colleges, which colleges offer which round for fall 2027, and ED II dates.
- Applying early When do early decision results come out? Fall 2027 dates Early decision and early action release dates for fall 2027 at 105 colleges, each linked to its own page. Most ED results land Dec 10-20.
- Applying early Deferred from early decision? What to do this week Deferred in early decision or early action? What it means, what to send and when, ED II deadlines at 43 colleges, and deadlines still open after Jan 1.
- Paying for college FAFSA deadlines for 2027-28: federal, state and college dates The 2027-28 FAFSA is open, and the federal deadline is June 30, 2028. State and college dates come much sooner: some as soon as possible, many by March.
- Building your list How many colleges should I apply to? Most students do well with 8 to 12 colleges. Here's why, with the odds worked out and admit rates for 1,678 four-year colleges.
- Applying early Accepted early decision? What to do next Admitted early decision? Pay the deposit by your college's date, withdraw your other applications, check the aid offer, and keep your grades up.
- After you apply The midyear report: what it is and when it's due Your counselor sends the midyear report with your first-semester senior grades. What's on it, who needs it, and due dates at Duke, Brown and more.