April 15, 2026

Get Into Montclair Early: How the Early Bird Program Helps High Schoolers Start Senior Year Stress-Free

High-achieving juniors can apply now, hear back before senior year and use a non-binding early offer from Montclair State University to plan classes, finances and their next steps

Posted in: Admissions, Homepage News, Press Releases

Dana Brzezinski sits on the grass at Montclair State University, holding an open notebook and talking with a friend, with campus buildings and a tree visible in the background. — Dana Brzezinski, a first-year Educational Foundations major, relaxes with friends on the Montclair State University campus – the place she first pictured herself attending when she applied through the Early Bird Junior Admission Program. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

When Dana Brzezinski opened an email the summer before her senior year of high school, she got the news every student waits for: she was in. Through Montclair State University’s Early Bird Junior Admission Program – which invites high-achieving juniors to apply early (for free) and receive an admission and scholarship decision before senior year – Brzezinski learned months ahead of her classmates that she had a spot at the university she already loved.

That early decision changed everything. Brzezinski hadn’t expected an answer so quickly. “Then I got the email and I was like, ‘Oh, I got into college.’” In that moment, she says, the whole process suddenly felt real and changed the tone of her final year at Howell High School.

“It was a little more relaxing,” she says. While she did go ahead and apply to other colleges, “It definitely made the application process more manageable and a lot less stressful.” Because the program is non‑binding, Brzezinski could keep exploring options while holding a secure offer at Montclair.

Dana Brzezinski stands on a grassy quad at Montclair State University, talking with two friends in the foreground while other students sit and gather in small groups across the lawn. — Dana Brzezinski talks with friends on the Montclair State University quad on a spring afternoon. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

What Sealed the Deal?

By the time she applied, Brzezinski had already fallen for the campus. “I liked the community, and all of the buildings are beautiful,” she says. “You could tell that the staff, the professors, when you saw them walking around, you could tell that they like their jobs.” She also noticed something different about the students: “You see all the students outside together, talking instead of everyone just looking down at their phones. I feel like it’s just different here.”

Now an aspiring elementary school teacher and first‑year Educational Foundations major, Brzezinski is already getting involved in campus life. She has joined the Future Educators Club and is eyeing the gardening club and other activities. “Overall, my freshman year is pretty good,” she says. “I can already tell that the elementary education program is a great fit for me.”

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

High school juniors who want the same head start can learn more at Early Bird Admissions Program. Submit the online Early Bird application by June 15 to be considered. Look out for admission decisions and preliminary scholarship offers in July. Use early offers to talk with your family about finances and plan your next steps.