Most people view rolling admissions in a positive light, but should they? Rolling admissions can subject students to prolonged periods of stress and pressure.
According to US News & World Report, 143 colleges offered rolling admissions in the fall of 2023. With multiple deadlines and ongoing decision releases, students may feel compelled to constantly compare offers and make quick decisions without fully considering their options or future goals. This pressure can lead to anxiety and potentially result in regretful choices.
Rushing to make important decisions and making an unsatisfactory college choice often lead to living with long-term consequences for one’s academic and personal development. The college a student goes to is one of the most important decisions of their life, and should never be rushed.
Additionally, rolling admissions can disadvantage students in terms of financial aid opportunities. Typically, colleges have a limited pool of funds for distributing scholarships and grants. Students who apply later in the cycle may find that financial aid resources have already depleted, leaving them with fewer options for financial support. This may be the case even if they are more qualified than those before them who received the aid.
Since rolling admissions often provide early decisions to students, comparing and negotiating financial aid offers becomes more challenging. Students may receive admission offers from different colleges at different times, making it difficult to effectively weigh their options and explore potential financial aid adjustments.
This can result in students accepting less favorable financial aid packages or missing out on potentially better offers. The rush to be secure is prominent among students, and committing early often lifts a large weight off their shoulders.
Rolling admissions can also pose difficulties for students who may still be in the process of enhancing their applications or completing standardized tests. With earlier decision releases, students may feel pressured to submit incomplete or rushed applications, potentially diminishing their chances of admission or scholarship consideration in the first place.
Lastly, rolling admissions can result in a prolonged waiting period for students as they anticipate college decisions. This continued uncertainty can take an emotional toll, impacting students’ well-being, productivity, and ability to focus on other important aspects of their senior year.
While there are some obvious benefits such as early decisions and increased application flexibility, these drawbacks should be carefully considered by students during the college application process. So, the seemingly harmless rolling admissions can ruin the whole college application process if one is not careful.
