What are the different choices regarding the application process: Early Decision, Early Action, Early Action Single Choice, Early Decision I and II, Rolling, and Regular?

Early Decision: If you have a dream school to which you have a reasonable chance of being accepted, you may apply Early Decision. The deadlines for early decision are generally in October or November, and you will hear from the school in early to mid-December. More and more schools are accepting students early for a variety of reasons, and that puts the pressure on applicants who feel that their chances of being accepted are better if they show a definite interest in attending only one school. If you are accepted Early Decision, you MUST accept the school (unless the financial aid package is inadequate). You may also apply to Early Action schools at the same time, and you may apply Regular Decision to other schools, but you must withdraw all other applications if you are accepted Early Decision. Sometimes there are two deadlines, approximately a month or two apart.

Early Action: If you apply Early Action, and you are accepted, the decision is binding to the school but not to you. You may still apply to other schools Early Action and Early Decision as well as Regular. 

Rolling Admissions: Schools that have rolling admissions view their applications on a first-come, first-served basis until they have filled their class. So if you apply in September, you will hear from the school some time in the fall, and you have the option of accepting of continuing to “shop.” 

Regular: Applications are generally due between December 15 and March 15, most commonly January 1 (keeping in mind that high schools are closed for a winter break and will most likely require that you have all of your materials ready beforehand).

Keep in mind that your counselors and your teachers will be writing recommendations, and that they need time to do so at least a month before the deadline. Also, you will need to plan your SAT/ACT testing so that the scores will be sent to the schools in plenty of time.

When should I use the Common Application? Should I apply online?

If a school is one of the 463 members of the Common Application, you are encouraged to use it. In addition to the obvious "green" advantage of saving paper, colleges prefer getting the materials online rather than opening and sorting thousands of envelopes.  It makes the process much less stressful for everyone because of the uniformity of the application form and because it takes less time to fill out one form for a large number of colleges, all of which pay a fee for the privilege of being member schools on the Common Application list and which pledge to treat both the Common Application and their own forms equally.

If it is at all possible, you should definitely apply online.  Some colleges have offered to waive or reduce the application fee for those who apply online, which could be a significant savings if you apply to a large number of schools.  And many schools will not accept paper applications anymore. See https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/FAQ.aspx for tips on applying online.  Be aware that it is not advisable to "mix and match" different formats in the application process.

What if I am a “Legacy” candidate or a student athlete?

If you are a “Legacy” applicant or an athlete who is being scouted, it is often advisable to apply early to show that you are very serious about a particular school. Legacy students have parents (or grandparents) who are alumni of the school. Athletes who want to play for Division I schools, particularly, want to be sure that they are considered and accepted for the few slots on the team before other qualified athletes take the slots.

When should I use the Common Application? Should I apply online?

If a school is one of the 463 members of the Common Application, you are encouraged to use it. In addition to the obvious "green" advantage of saving paper, colleges prefer getting the materials online rather than opening and sorting thousands of envelopes.  It makes the process much less stressful for everyone because of the uniformity of the application form and because it takes less time to fill out one form for a large number of colleges, all of which pay a fee for the privilege of being member schools on the Common Application list and which pledge to treat both the Common Application and their own forms equally.

If it is at all possible, you should definitely apply online.  Some colleges have offered to waive or reduce the application fee for those who apply online, which could be a significant savings if you apply to a large number of schools.  And many schools will not accept paper applications anymore. See https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/FAQ.aspx for tips on applying online.  Be aware that it is not advisable to "mix and match" different formats in the application process.