The Halloween Rule that changes everything 🎃
And here we go! It’s time to swap beach towels for deadlines.
We’re already knee-deep in the juiciest college admissions windows of the year — early apps are open and the game is on.
If August 1 came and went without so much as a “ding” from your calendar, breathe. You didn’t miss the boat — you just need to hustle a little smarter from here on out. And since you’re here, you’re about to be in the know!
Here’s the thing: from now until mid/end of October, colleges are in “snag-the-best-students” mode. They’re wooing the organized go-getters before the procrastinators even open a blank Google Doc.
Schools like Chapel Hill, Clemson, and Purdue are all in. And the payoff for being early is real — for example, UNC–Chapel Hill admits early applicants at a rate about 13 points higher than the regular round. That’s not a nudge — that’s a shove.
But not all “early” is created equal. There are four ways to apply ahead of the pack, and knowing the difference can save you a whole lot of stress — and possibly a whole lot of money.
💍
Early Decision (ED) – Binding
The “marry me” of applications. If your teen applies ED and gets in, they’re locked in — no flirty glances at other offers allowed. Student, parent, and counselor all sign an Early Decision Agreement. The only way out is if the financial aid package tanks… and that’s about as fun as a root canal.
When ED works:
Your teen is madly in love with the school (and has visited while students are actually there).
You can cover your Student Aid Index for all four years without living on ramen.
Why I rarely recommend it: ED can mean you pay top dollar because you can’t compare aid packages. Great for the college’s bottom line, not always for yours.
If “binding” is even on the table, run it by me first. It’s rarely the best play for most families.
⏰
Early Action (EA) –
Non-binding
The “let’s date but keep our options open” plan. Apply early (usually by Nov. 1), hear back by mid-December, and still have until May 1 to decide. You can keep applying elsewhere, compare offers, and play the field.
Some schools sweeten EA with priority deadlines that unlock competitive majors, merit scholarships, or honors programs. EA can give you a small admit bump — without the financial handcuffs.
My favorite part: it forces your teen to get it together early. No holiday-break essay marathons or midnight tech meltdowns on New Year’s Eve… just a calm November and December with (hopefully) at least one “Yes, you!” in the bag.
🚪🔒
Restrictive Early Action (REA) – Non-binding, but limiting
Early Action’s highly exclusive cousin.
You can still say “no” in the spring, but you can only apply early to one private school in this category (Harvard, Yale, or Notre Dame, for example).
You can still send Regular Decision apps to other private schools (or apply early to publics), but REA is basically you saying: You’re my fave, but I’m not putting a ring on it just yet.
📬
Rolling Admissions (RA) – First-come, first-served
The Costco sample line of admissions — you get in line early, you get the goods.
Schools, like Indiana, USF, Penn State, and East Carolina (ECU), review applications as they arrive and send decisions as they go. These schools are great for a fast “You’re in!” (Hopefully.)
Bonus: Many tie priority deadlines to housing or scholarships, so you can snag the good stuff before it’s gone (earlier = better).
✨📖
Christy’s Early Action
Playbook
If you’d rather see your teen heading into winter break with acceptances (and maybe even financial awards) already rolling in — aka fewer panicked portal refreshes and way more memory-making in senior year — then this one’s for you.
These five timing moves are my tried-and-true go-tos. Use them as your personal North Star in the next few weeks. 🌟
Just keep this in mind: A smart timeline only works if the essays get done.
One of the biggest reasons early apps get derailed isn’t grades or test scores or letters of rec — it’s the writing. That blank document is where a lot of teens stall out.
My final Complete Your Essay in a Weekend workshops happen on August 30-31 and September 20–21 (in-person and online, as usual!).
After that, I shift 100% into 1:1 mode because by October, students are overwhelmed, feeling behind, and need way more TLC than a group setting allows.
If early apps are the goal in your house, the essay can’t be the bottleneck — but usually is.
Signing your teen up to the workshop is the simplest way I know to take the two biggest things off your teen’s plate — the essay and the activities list — and set them up to actually submit early.
1. Treat Halloween like it’s January 🎯
Yes, schools might have January deadlines, but turning things in that late is like buying snow boots in March — everything’s been picked over.
By Halloween, seats are open, aid is flowing, and you’ve got wiggle room for possible tech glitches or a rogue flu bug.
2. Be early, even if there’s no “early” label ⌛
Rolling, priority, even Regular Decision — if you submit early, colleges notice. It screams "Here's a proactive and serious student", which admissions folks love.
I tell my seniors: pretend every school’s deadline is November 1, even if it isn’t.
3. Don’t lock all your doors 🗝️
Early Decision might get you in, but it slams the door on comparing offers.
Collect acceptances and aid packages through EA, REA, and RA (if you must), then negotiate like a champ in spring.
4. Work in waves 🐚
🌊 Wave 1 (Aug–Oct): ED, EA, REA, RA for top-choice and more competitive schools. If you complete everything before Nov. 1, kick up your feet and let the following waves just roll on by…
🌊 Wave 2 (Nov–Dec): Submit any remaining Regular Decision apps and later priority EA deadlines.
🌊 Wave 3 (Jan–Feb): If your teen discovers a new “I could like this!” school, go ahead and apply. Or skip any more college stuff and go make memories building a snowman or visiting schools.
5. Winter break without the drama ❄️
Submit early, and your teen could be sipping their Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate in December with acceptance(s) already in hand while their friends are still panicked about Draft #1.
That’s not just peace of mind — it’s bargaining power.
If you’re staring at your teen’s list and wondering how to keep essays and deadlines from hijacking your family life for the next 5 months — it’s time to complete the Personal Statement essay and Activities List. And I can help, if you’ll just take the first step.
With you early, smart, and heart-first,
Christy
👋 Hi, if we haven't met yet, I'm Christy. I help students craft standout essays so they can submit their best possible applications with confidence.
Wanna chat? www.calendly.com/easiercollegeessays/30min
