The January 15 application deadline has come and gone, and here's the timeline for the coming weeks for those of you who applied Regular Decision...

First of all, we need to get all of the applications that have arrived ready for the counseling staff to review. A computer program helps us do that with all of the applications that came in online, through the Common Application, by adding the data you entered on the Common App to our own information management system. For the students who applied by mail, information is entered into our computer system by our operations staff.

Next step: matching additional credentials (we affectionately call them "loose pieces" in our office) to the application. These credentials include the high school transcript, school report, letters of recommendation, etc... anything that needs to be included in your admission file but didn't arrive with the application itself. Actually, this is an ongoing task, as we'll continue to receive updated information over the next month (such as first semester grades sent from high schools) that will need to be added to students' application files.

As applications and pieces are matched up and files are completed, they are distributed to our fifteen admission counselors by geographic territory, so each of us can complete our "first reads." This initial review process is underway, and will take over a month to complete. In mid-to-late February, we will move to our second- and third-read processes, to be sure that every applicant receives a thorough review. Finally, in early March, a number of our applications will go through the committee process. (More on these processes when we get to them!)

Two final notes for today:

1. If you did apply Regular Decision, you will be receiving a letter and e-mail in early February to let you know if we are missing any "pieces" of your application. (Many will say that we have not yet received your mid-year grades - don't panic if yours does, as your high school will send them when they become available).

2. Speaking of mid-year grades, there are a few high schools out there that don't automatically send them to all of the colleges students have applied to. So, if you attend one of those high schools, please make sure to request that your mid-year grades be sent to us as soon as they are available. Thanks!