If you applied to join the Class of 2028 and want to know when colleges will decide on admissions for the 2023-2024 term, you’re in the right spot. Some colleges send out notifications quickly, while others might take longer than you think. These dates should give you a pretty good idea of when you might hear back from the colleges you applied to.

Class of 2028 College Admissions Decisions Dates & Timelines

Most colleges let you know if you got in or not through Early Decision I around the middle of December 2023. Early Action notifications usually come between mid-December 2023 and late January 2024. Early Decision II results usually arrive in mid to late February 2024. For Regular Decision, you can expect to hear back between mid-March and April 1, 2024. Some schools have rolling admissions, meaning they review applications as they come in and usually give a decision within four to six weeks.

Specific Timeline for Admissions Decision Notifications by College

Top National Universities

When will students applying to the top national colleges for the Class of 2028 get their admission decisions? Wonder no more! Here are the dates for applicants to the top 50 national colleges, according to US News & World Report in 2024:

Top Liberal Arts Colleges

When will students applying to the top liberal arts colleges for the Class of 2028 get their admission decisions? Here are the dates for applicants to the top 25 liberal arts colleges, according to US News & World Report in 2024:

Difference Between Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Early Action

The charts show that different schools have different options for applying: Early Decision, Regular Decision, Early Decision I and II, Early Action, and Regular Decision. Early Decision means students must go to the school if accepted. There are different deadlines for Early Decision I and Early Decision II. Early Action lets students apply to multiple schools without being committed to any. They just need to decide where they want to go by May 1, 2024.

What to Do While You Wait

Many students wonder what to do while they wait for decisions from colleges. Unless the college specifically asks for it, like first-quarter or mid-year grades, there’s nothing for students to do. If an alum from a school contacts them for an interview, the student should take advantage of it. Having an alumni interview doesn’t mean you’re more likely to get in; it just means there are alumni willing to interview students in the area. Apart from that, there’s nothing else to do. Students shouldn’t send extra updates to colleges or bother admissions staff during the busiest time of the year for reviewing applications.