Westbrook High School

Early Decision is the application process in which students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll.  Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the early decision commitment.

Early Action is the application process in which students make application to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date.  Students who are admitted under early action are not obligated to accept the institution’s offer of admission or to submit a deposit until the regular reply date (not prior to May 1.

Regular Decision is the application process in which a student submits an application to an institution by a specified date and receives a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time, but not later than April 15.

Rolling Admission is the application process in which an institution reviews applications as they are completed and renders admission decisions to students throughout the admission cycle.

Wait List is an admission decision option utilized by institutions to protect against shortfalls in enrollment.  Wait lists are sometimes made necessary because of the uncertainty of the admission process, as students submit applications for admission to multiple institutions and may receive several offers of admission.  By placing a student on the wait list, an institution does not initially offer or deny admission, but extends to a candidate the possibility of admission in the future, before the institution’s admission cycle is concluded.