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A week before the November 1 Early Decision and Early Action deadline, here are the seven steps families most often miss after the essays are done — drawn from Common App's official guidance and college admissions and financial aid offices: the three-signature ED Agreement, why paying isn't submitting, separate Writing Supplements, how each college wants test scores, CSS Profile deadlines, applicant portals, and what to do after an ED decision.
College Admissions | Early Decision

The Early Decision Final Checklist: 7 Things to Confirm Before You Hit Submit (November 1 Deadline)

ByAndy Lee | Elite Prep Suwanee October 24, 2026

Read More The Early Decision Final Checklist: 7 Things to Confirm Before You Hit Submit (November 1 Deadline)Continue

Duke admitted 13.8% of Early Decision applicants and 3.7% in Regular Decision. But ED is not the easy road. Using Duke's own admissions pages and Common Data Set, here is what Duke weighs, the November 2 deadline, financial aid under a binding plan, the three possible ED outcomes, and a mistake families make every year — so you can tell whether your senior should apply ED now or wait.
College Admissions | Early Decision

Duke Early Decision: Why a 13.8% ED Admit Rate Can Mislead You — Who Should Apply Now, and Who Should Wait

ByAndy Lee | Elite Prep Suwanee October 10, 2026

Read More Duke Early Decision: Why a 13.8% ED Admit Rate Can Mislead You — Who Should Apply Now, and Who Should WaitContinue

USC opened Early Decision to nearly every undergraduate program, the University of Michigan is in its second year of ED, and the University of Florida and Florida State University are offering ED for the first time with an October 15 deadline. Here are the deadlines, decision dates, exceptions, how ED differs from EA, and what families should check before signing.
College Admissions | Early Applications

New Early Decision Options This Year — USC, Michigan, UF and FSU: Should Your Student Apply ED?

ByAndy Lee | Elite Prep Suwanee October 6, 2026October 6, 2026

Read More New Early Decision Options This Year — USC, Michigan, UF and FSU: Should Your Student Apply ED?Continue

The 2027-28 FAFSA and the CSS Profile both open on October 1. How to set up parent FSA IDs (including without an SSN), why one missing consent disqualifies a student from all federal aid, what the CSS Profile asks that the FAFSA doesn't, and why November 1 is a financial aid deadline too.
College Admissions | Financial Aid

October 1: Two Financial Aid Forms Open, Not One — A Filing Guide for Senior Families

ByAndy Lee | Elite Prep Suwanee September 11, 2026September 15, 2026

Read More October 1: Two Financial Aid Forms Open, Not One — A Filing Guide for Senior FamiliesContinue

Every college is required to post a Net Price Calculator. Run it before you apply. Here's how to read the numbers, why the new Parent PLUS caps change your list, and how to build in a financial safety — a step-by-step August guide for families of rising seniors.
College Admissions | Paying for College

Ignore the Sticker Price: Build Your College List Around What You’ll Actually Pay

ByAndy Lee | Elite Prep Suwanee July 29, 2026

Read More Ignore the Sticker Price: Build Your College List Around What You’ll Actually PayContinue

The 2026-27 FAFSA opened earlier than ever, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act rewrote federal aid — a first-ever Parent PLUS cap ($20K/year, $65K lifetime), Grad PLUS eliminated, a new lifetime borrowing limit, and SAI asset changes. A 2027 planning guide for families of rising seniors.
College Admissions | Financial Aid

The 2027 Financial Aid Shake-Up — Parent PLUS Loans Now Have a Cap

ByAndy Lee | Elite Prep Suwanee July 26, 2026July 26, 2026

Read More The 2027 Financial Aid Shake-Up — Parent PLUS Loans Now Have a CapContinue

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