Curious About Early Action: Which Schools Offer It?

Hello everyone! I'm researching college applications and have come across early action as a possible option. Could someone provide a list of schools (or ways to find schools) that offer early action? I want to know my options and if early action might be a good fit for me. Thanks for your help!

Hello! Early Action (EA) is an excellent option to consider if you want to apply to colleges early without committing to them if accepted. Here's a list of some well-known colleges and universities that offer Early Action:

1. MIT

2. University of Notre Dame

3. Georgetown University

4. Caltech

5. Boston College

6. University of Virginia

7. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

8. University of Michigan

9. University of Maryland

10. Northeastern University

Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and other colleges may offer EA as well. To find more schools, you can use college search tools like CollegeVine's College Search or the College Board's Big Future College Search to filter colleges based on admission plan (among other criteria). When researching specific colleges, check their admissions websites and look for "Early Action" or "EA" within the application guidelines. Each school's EA deadline and policies might vary, so make sure to get accurate information from the official source.

Applying Early Action can be a good fit if you have a strong application prepared by the EA deadlines, typically in November. EA allows you to receive a decision before the Regular Decision cycle, which may relieve some stress around the application process. However, keep in mind that some universities offer restrictive Early Action (REA), where you can't apply to other private institutions' Early Decision or Early Action programs if you apply EA to the REA school. Examples of schools with REA policies are Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

Before deciding on EA, consider if you'll be able to submit a complete, well-polished application by the deadline and if you're willing to abide by any restrictions associated with those particular EA programs. Good luck!