EA Schools - A Breakdown?

Hey, I've just started my college application process and stumbled across the term EA schools. Can anybody explain to me what EA schools are? Are there any advantages to applying to these schools?

Absolutely, happy to help! EA, or Early Action, is one of the modes in which you can apply to colleges. If a school offers an Early Action admission plan, it means that you can submit your application earlier than the regular decision application deadline, usually in November, and get your admission decision usually in December, ahead of the regular decision notification timeline in spring.

The most significant advantage of applying EA is that you find out your admission decision earlier, which can be useful in your decision-making process. For instance, if you're admitted to one of your top-choice schools EA, it could lessen the stress of waiting for other college decisions in the spring.

Moreover, for some very selective schools, applying Early Action could provide a slight boost to your chances of getting accepted, compared to applying regular decision. For example, on average, applying Early Decision (which is binding) can result in a 60% increase in your chances of admission to super selective schools, whereas applying Early Action (which is non-binding) also boosts your chances, though not as much as ED, as there are no yield benefits for the school since you're not obligated to attend if accepted.

Remember though, if you choose to apply EA, you'll need to have your application materials (like your essay, recommendation letters, etc.) ready by the earlier deadline. You should ensure that you are not compromising the quality of your application to meet the earlier deadline.

Overall, Early Action is a great options if you're fully prepared by the earlier deadline and are keen on hearing back sooner.