Why Regular Decision Feels Harder Than The Numbers Suggest

We explain why regular decision acceptance rates look harsher than headlines suggest and how early rounds, deferrals, and capacity pressures shape outcomes. We share how to build a smarter list that matches probability and keeps real options open.

• how seats shrink after early action and early decision 
• why regular decision pools absorb deferrals and hedgers 
• lower acceptance rates without weaker applicants 
• yield, financial aid, and major capacity constraints 
• list-building for probability over possibility 
• key takeaway that regular decision is the most competitive phase

More about working with East Coast Admissions is available on our website

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Topic Setup
• 0:11 How Seats Shrink Before RD
• 0:30 Why The RD Pool Inflates
• 0:55 Competition, Yield, And Capacity
• 1:23 Takeaways And Next Steps

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:04

Good morning and welcome to the East Coast College Admissions Podcast. I'm your host, Cleopatra, and this is Today in Admissions. Today's topic, how regular decision polls inflate. By the time regular decision applicants are reviewed, much of a college's incoming class is already partially shaped. Early decision, early action, athletic recruiting, and institutional priorities all reduce the number of seats available before regular decision even begins. What remains is a smaller number of spots and a much larger applicant pool competing for them. Regular decision polls are inflated because they absorb deferred applicants, students who did not apply early, and applicants who are hedging across multiple highly selective colleges. As a result, acceptance rates in regular decisions are often significantly lower than published averages. This inflation does not mean applicants are weaker. In fact, regular decision posts are frequently deeper and more competitive than early rounds. Colleges must compare a high volume of qualified students while managing yield, financial aid budget, and major level capacity all at once. The result is that many strong applicants are denied, not because they fall short academically, but because space is limited and priorities are already in motion. The key takeaway is this regular decision is not a backup round. It's the most competitive phase of the process. Understanding how regular decision polls inflate helps students set realistic expectations and build lists that account for probability, not just possibility. And that's it for today in Admissions. A short daily update on how college admissions actually works. More about working with East Coast Admissions is available on our website. Until tomorrow, back to your day,