Deadlines and Decisions: Where Our Seniors Are Applying Early

With college application season underway, our senior class is setting the stage for their futures through bold early applications to schools across the country. From leading public institutions to specialized programs, here’s a snapshot of where everyone’s aiming!

By Armaan Sharma & Anushree Samsi

Key Terminology: 

Here’s a quick guide to the early application options mentioned in this article, though details may vary by school:

1. Early Action (EA): A non-binding option that allows students to apply early and receive a decision sooner, while keeping the freedom to consider other offers.
2. Restrictive Early Action (REA): A non-binding option that generally limits students from applying ED or EA to other private colleges, though they may still apply EA to public institutions.
3. Early Decision (ED): A binding application option. If accepted, students must attend that school and withdraw any other applications. 

Where Seniors are Applying:

Advaith Karthik

EA to: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of Texas at Austin

Ami Arivazhagan

EA to: Purdue University, Rutgers University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Texas at Austin

Anushree Samsi

ED to Duke University: Anushree is excited about Duke’s unique opportunities in public policy, particularly in sports, health, and economics. With unique programs like the Business of Sport and the Center for Sports Law & Policy, Duke provides the ideal environment to pursue her interests. Beyond academics, she’s drawn to Duke’s vibrant clubs, with experiences like the club sports DREAM trip that combines cultural exploration with sports. Additionally, she looks forward to being a part of a community with the amazing food, residential life, and a tight-knit, personalized learning environment perfectly combining the vast opportunities of a big school with the focus of a small university. 

EA to: Purdue University, Rutgers University, University of Maryland at College Park, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Armaan Sharma

REA to Yale University: Armaan values Yale’s non-binding Early Action option, which—while making Yale his first choice—allows him to explore other schools and financial options. He envisions his Yale experience filled with moments like rehearsing with one of the 19 a cappella groups on campus, engaging in advocacy through the LGBTQ Student Center and his intended major of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and collaborating on policy initiatives for marginalized communities at the Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS). For Armaan, Yale’s dynamic campus—where academic, musical, social, and personal pursuits blend seamlessly—offers the ideal setting for his college years.

EA to: University of Massachusetts at Amherst, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Southern California, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Cally Li

ED to Duke University: Cally’s choice to apply early to Duke reflects her passion for infectious disease research, a field where Duke excels. At Duke’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, she looks forward to engaging in hands-on research alongside students who share her curiosity, creating an academic experience that she hopes will enrich her personal and intellectual growth.

EA to: Case Western Reserve University, Santa Clara University, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Duronto Pablo

While Duronto isn’t applying to any schools with EA, REA, or ED programs, he has chosen to apply to Chapman University’s Film and Television Production program, which has a regular decision (RD) deadline on November 1st

Kenric Hoang

ED to Carnegie Mellon University: Kenric is drawn to Carnegie Mellon’s top-ranked applied math program, which also has deep connections with fields like finance, engineering, and philosophy. With the nation’s #1 AI program, Carnegie Mellon’s expertise goes beyond theory; it boasts major projects in transportation, healthcare, and education that offer hands-on experience and the chance to make a real-world impact.

EA to: University of Southern California

Isabelle Zhang

ED to Santa Clara University: For Isabelle, Santa Clara University offers the chance to stay connected with friends at nearby schools and remain in the Bay Area, where she feels at home.

EA to: Northeastern University, Pepperdine University, Seattle University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of San Francisco

Ishita Chopra

EA to: Case Western Reserve University, Drexel University, Reed College, Rutgers University, University of Florida at Gainesville, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Miami, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin

Moksh Paniker

EA to: Arizona State University at Tempe, Colorado School of Mines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Image Credit: thecolledge.org