Early Action-Early Decision
The Early Action and Early Decision deadlines are fast approaching--most are either November 1st or November 15th. How do you decide whether to apply EA or ED, and what's the difference?
Definition:
Early Action (EA) is a NON-BINDING agreement in which you apply before the general deadline to show your interest in a particular college. Early Decision (ED), on the other hand, is a BINDING CONTRACT to attend the college, should it accept you. Since ED is binding, you'll usually need to file a preliminary application for financial aid at the same time, so that the college can provide you with an estimate of your financial package.
Not all colleges offer EA or ED--and most that do will offer one rather than the other (though an increasing number are offering both). In addition, there's a trend now toward having TWO different early tracks--EA or ED I and EA or ED II.
You also need to check the particular college's web site, as other hybrid early programs are showing up--for example "restrictive" Early Action. In this option, you apply EA to just one college; all the rest have to be regular decision. Restrictive EA limits your application options even more than most ED programs, which allow you to apply EA elsewhere as long as you withdraw the applications if you get into the ED college. However, you still have to May 1 to decide whether to attend.
How do I decide whether to apply early?
If you absolutely know that a certain college is the one you want, then applying ED can make a lot of sense. Many colleges take in a larger percentage of their entering class via ED, so that can give you an edge. Similarly, if the top colleges on your list offer EA, it makes sense to apply early for the same reason--a larger percent of students from the early pool are accepted at many colleges.
On the other hand, what if your grades are borderline for a particular college, or your test scores aren't quite where you want them, and you want the chance to take the SAT or ACT one more time? In that case, you may decide you want to wait and apply regular decision (or to the growing number of EA II or ED II options)--that way your November test scores and mid term grades will be available as the colleges make their admissions decision.
Definition:
Early Action (EA) is a NON-BINDING agreement in which you apply before the general deadline to show your interest in a particular college. Early Decision (ED), on the other hand, is a BINDING CONTRACT to attend the college, should it accept you. Since ED is binding, you'll usually need to file a preliminary application for financial aid at the same time, so that the college can provide you with an estimate of your financial package.
Not all colleges offer EA or ED--and most that do will offer one rather than the other (though an increasing number are offering both). In addition, there's a trend now toward having TWO different early tracks--EA or ED I and EA or ED II.
You also need to check the particular college's web site, as other hybrid early programs are showing up--for example "restrictive" Early Action. In this option, you apply EA to just one college; all the rest have to be regular decision. Restrictive EA limits your application options even more than most ED programs, which allow you to apply EA elsewhere as long as you withdraw the applications if you get into the ED college. However, you still have to May 1 to decide whether to attend.
How do I decide whether to apply early?
If you absolutely know that a certain college is the one you want, then applying ED can make a lot of sense. Many colleges take in a larger percentage of their entering class via ED, so that can give you an edge. Similarly, if the top colleges on your list offer EA, it makes sense to apply early for the same reason--a larger percent of students from the early pool are accepted at many colleges.
On the other hand, what if your grades are borderline for a particular college, or your test scores aren't quite where you want them, and you want the chance to take the SAT or ACT one more time? In that case, you may decide you want to wait and apply regular decision (or to the growing number of EA II or ED II options)--that way your November test scores and mid term grades will be available as the colleges make their admissions decision.
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