Early Action vs. Early Decision: Which One is Right for Me?
Early Action vs. Early Decision: Which One is Right for Me?
There was a time when New Year's Day was the major holiday milestone marker in the college application process. Students would spend a good chunk of their winter vacation finishing applications that were due shortly after the ball dropped in Times Square.And while this is still a very important deadline to pay attention to, each year a larger number of students are taking advantage of applying either early action (EA) or early decision (ED). The process has shifted further up the calendar and, with it, the strategy around how to maximize your chances of gaining admissions continues to shift.The tradeoff for finishing applications earlier can be receiving a greater statistical advantage in the admissions process in addition to experiencing clarity about your college future before many of your friends in the 12th grade. However, this advantage alone may not outweigh the benefits of applying regular decision for your particular situation.Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of EA and ED so you can decide whether or not either of these options make sense for you.
What is Early Action?
In short, early action is a process wherein you apply early to a college, usually by November 15, and they make an admissions decision before moving on to the regular round. Often these decisions are released before Christmas, conveniently before your regular decision applications are due. Most importantly, EA is a non-binding process. Though you’ll be informed of your acceptance (we hope) early, you will have until May 1, the standard final date for decisions, to choose whether or not to attend.
Why Might EA Be the Right Choice for Me?
Early action might be a smart decision for your application process if you are the kind of student who is good with deadlines, has a strong track record of success heading into senior year, and would like some early information about where you stand within the applicant pool that might help inform other applications.While there are some colleges that give students who apply early action a statistical advantage in gaining admission, this is not as common as with early decision.For schools that offer EA but not ED, applying early action can be a great way of showing your interest in that institution. Particularly at a target school on your list that you’re really excited about, submitting a strong EA application could go a long way in not only helping you be admitted, but also potentially earning you scholarships or placement in an honors college.
Is EA Really Better than Regular Decision?
Not necessarily. Most schools that offer an early action option will treat those applicants with the same level of scrutiny that they will their regular decision pool.If you think you would benefit from having more time to complete your application, raise your grades, and/or contribute more deeply to your extracurricular activities or other passion projects, it may make more sense for you to apply regular decision to that same school.Working closely with a knowledgeable college counselor will help you make smart decisions about how to best apply and thus give yourself the greatest odds of gaining admission.
What is Early Decision?
Unlike early action, early decision is a binding process wherein the college reviews your application under the strong assumption (you, your parents, and your college counselor sign a contract) that if they admit you, you will attend in the fall.Many colleges love early decision because it allows them to shape their class exactly as they please. Since students have already self-selected the school that they are most interested in, colleges can cherry-pick the applicants they want from that pool to meet their institutional priorities.Though the early decision process faces increased scrutiny from the outside world, it remains incredibly—if not increasingly—popular; some schools will fill up to half their incoming class through this process.
Why Should I Apply Early Decision?
Do you have a clear-cut number one choice school? Have you found the program that speaks most perfectly to your future goals? Are you willing to attend a school over every other possible choice you might have—irrespective of how much financial aid or scholarship money they offer you?If you said yes to all of these questions, then ED might be an appropriate choice for you. Early decision makes the most sense for students who have been able to spend time researching and visiting schools, building a rapport with admissions officers, and carefully preparing a strong application.
Why Shouldn't I Apply ED?
It’s perfectly normal to not be ready to make a major commitment like this by November of senior year. If you’re unsure what your absolute top choice school is, if you would like to compare financial aid packages, or if you need more time in the fall to demonstrate your best work in an application, ED is probably not for you.When families hear of the discrepancy in the admit rate of the ED round versus regular decision, it can trigger a panic impulse to apply somewhere early. It is precisely this panic that drives up the number of applications, making it harder for everyone and placing more pressure on students to try to stand out in a crowded field.The advantage you may gain is not worth the peace of mind you will sacrifice. And, perhaps more to the point, if you are unable to put together an excellent application, it will not matter that you applied early.
What is Early Decision 2 (ED2)?
Sometimes the sequel lives up to the original and, in the case of early decision, ED2 does exactly that. Operating with the same binding agreement as its early counterpart, ED2 offers students a second chance to have a top choice.Typically, ED2 applications are due the same time as regular decision apps. This allows students to still show a particular university that they will definitely attend if given the opportunity to do so and allots them two extra months to prepare a strong application.Perhaps you struggled to decide between two elite universities and were deferred or rejected from one of them in the first round of early decision. Perhaps you knew what your top choice was all along but wanted to prove how much you’ve grown as a student by earning all As for the first semester of senior year. Maybe you discovered later in the process that X University has the exact niche program you’re looking for and you can’t imagine studying anywhere else now.These are all great reasons to consider ED2. The applicant pool in this round tends to be smaller, which will help your chances. But it also tends to be savvier in terms of why that university is the right choice. You’ll need a firm grasp on your reasons for applying to create a winning application.
Which Application Path is Right for Me?
Each student will have different needs; devising an application plan is an important step to maximizing your chances of being admitted to the schools of your choice. You’ll want to consider not just your goals but your other time commitments over the fall in determining how to move forward.Especially with regard to early decision, make an informed, non-rushed decision. Do the proper research to really know the schools you’re considering and consult an expert to help you get the clearest picture of where you stand in the applicant pool and how to move the needle in your favor.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us