I'm in the middle of deciding whether to apply to some of my dream schools early, but I'm getting a bit mixed up between early action and early decision. Can someone explain the main differences between these two options? I know early decision is binding, but does that mean I can't apply anywhere else early?
Also, if I apply early action and get accepted, does that mean I have to decide right away or can I still compare with other schools later? I want to make the best strategic decision for my applications, especially because I'm considering a couple of reach schools. Any guidance would be appreciated!
Sure, happy to clarify the difference between Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED)!
Early Action is a non-binding form of early application, which simply means you apply earlier than the Regular Decision deadline and receive your decision sooner. If accepted, you are not obligated to enroll and can still compare offers from other schools before making a choice. This leaves you with financial and academic flexibility.
Early Decision, by contrast, is a binding form of early application. If you apply ED to a school and are accepted, you're essentially making a commitment to attend that school (unless the financial aid award is unreasonable, but this is a rare exception). So, yes, you technically can't apply ED to more than one school because essentially you'd be committing to multiple colleges at the same time, which is a breach of the ED agreement. Some colleges will allow you to simultaneously apply EA to other schools whilst applying ED to them, whereas others might restrict this. It's best to check the individual policy at each school you're considering.
With respect to strategy - taking advantage of early application cycles can potentially increase your chances of admission. For instance, research suggests that applying ED typically results in a roughly 60% boost in your chances of admission! EA can also boost your chances, but likely to a lesser extent because there's no yield benefit for the college since it's not binding.
Just remember, only apply ED if you're 100% certain about wanting to attend that college and have assessed that it is financially feasible for you. If you're still weighing your options, EA might be the way to go.
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