Hey, I'm a junior and starting to think about college applications. I've heard of both Early Action and Early Decision. Can someone please explain the differences between them and which one might be better for someone like me who's still not 100% sure about my top choice school? Any advice would be appreciated.
Hey there! It's great that you're starting to think about college applications early. The primary difference between Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) is the level of commitment required. EA is non-binding, meaning you can apply to multiple EA schools and still have the option to decide between them.
In contrast, ED is a binding agreement, meaning if you apply ED and are eventually accepted, you're expected to attend that college and withdraw any other applications you may have submitted. ED is suited for students who are 100% sure about their top choice school. Since you're not yet certain about your top choice, EA might be a better fit for you, but you also may eventually lock in on a school you feel comfortable applying ED to.
Good luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.