4 Ways to Search for Colleges with Late Application Deadlines

Maybe you decided to postpone college applications to take advantage of higher senior year grades, or maybe you’re not too happy with admissions results so far and want to try again.

Don’t worry—lots of colleges and universities are still accepting applications for the fall of 2011.

Locally, Marymount University, Roanoke College, the Corcoran College of Art & Design, Mount St. Mary’s University, St. John’s College, Randolph College, Longwood University, and Hood College are among those schools still accepting applications.

In fact, several hundred colleges are ready and very willing to consider applications—sometimes as late as the last day of August.

If you’re still looking or thinking about submitting additional applications, here are a few insider tips to jumpstart your research:

1. Common Application member institutions still open to new applicants may be found by going to the Common App website, scrolling down Member Colleges & Universities, and clicking College Search. Indicate that you’re looking for First Year and Fall 2011, and complete the deadline box according to your interest. If you’re looking for colleges with a deadline on or after March 14, 2011, you’ll be rewarded with a list of 136 institutions.



2. For the Universal College Application, you’ll need to create an account indicating that you are applying as a “first year” student for the fall of 2011. Click on My Colleges and a list of the institutions still accepting applications will appear—46 UCA member institutions as of March 14th.



3. Using the College Board’s Matchmaker search engine, select your preferences for size, location, majors, etc. At any point, click on “See Results.” Once results appear, go to the dropdown box labeled “Alphabetical," click on “Application Deadline,” and specify “Ascending.” Click on “Sort” and a complete list of colleges reflecting your preferences will appear according deadline.
   Caution: for some reason, the list starts with “01-Jan,” goes through the calendar year, and then re-starts with more colleges beginning “01-Jan.” Schools with “no deadline” are listed at the end.



4. For slightly different information, check out Peterson’s Colleges with Late & Rolling Application Deadlines. In the search box, enter the terms “nonprofit” and “4 year” to receive a list of 26 colleges offering rolling admissions. Simply ignore the paid advertising to the right of the page.

Once you have a starter list of schools that may still be accepting applications, verify deadlines by going to individual websites.

Note that schools with “rolling admissions” accept applications until their classes are filled. If websites are unclear as to the current status of the process, contact admissions offices directly and simply ask the question. You might be surprised to find many are still happy to hear from you.

For the news behind the news, check out the new College Explorations Facebook page.