What is Early Decision and Early Action?

Early decision (ED) is an agreement between the student and the school that binds the student to attend the school if admitted. I want to stress that early decision is binding.  Early Action (EA) is non-binding but the student applies earlier to the school and also receives a decision earlier. 

And to make matters more complicated, some schools will offer Early Decision I and Early Decision II and Early Action I and Early Action II and Single-choice Early Action and Restrictive Early Action and Non-restrictive Early Action! Knowing the difference between the terms is not complicated but it would be nice if there were one standard deadline. Some colleges even have the same Early Action deadline as the regular admission deadline. 

Early Decision 1 vs. Early Decision 2

Early Decision  – You are committed to attending if admitted and cannot apply anywhere else. The deadline is typically in November but a few schools have an even earlier deadline.

Early Decision 2 – You are committed to attending if admitted and cannot apply anywhere else. The deadline is typically in January. The second round of Early Decision allows students who may have been deferred or denied a second chance at applying Early Decision to a second school. It also allows students who couldn’t meet the Early Decision deadline a second chance but at a later date. 

Early Action also known as Non-restrictive Early Action – Is not binding but the student applies early and hears back from the school earlier. 

Restrictive Early Action also known as Single-Choice Early Action – It is non-binding but students may only apply to one private school early but are free to apply to public schools.

Regular Decision – You apply at the regular deadline giving you more time to research the schools. This also allows you to compare all financial award letters which is especially important if financial aid is a big deciding factor. 

Pros and Cons of Early decision and early action

Pros

• Admissions Rate is generally higher in Early Decision and Early Action
• Decisions are released in December vs. March or April 
• May increase your chances at your #1 school

Cons

• Competition is tougher! Only the strongest applicants apply – or should apply.
• You must apply by November vs. January leaving you very little time to research schools unless you start very early
• You may miss out on getting to know other schools
• If finances are a factor, you will not be able to compare all your financial award letters before making a decision. 

Is Early Decision for me?

Early decision is right for you if:

• You have extensively researched schools in the United States and have given equal research time to schools on your list
• Financial aid will not be a big factor
• You are already a super-strong candidate and do not need more time to improve your grades
• You can submit a high-quality application with the shorter timeline
• You have given your recommenders and guidance counselor enough time to submit information by the deadline

Early Decision is not right for you if:

• Your academic profile is below the institution’s average but you feel applying early decision will give you the boost you need
• You are dependent on financial aid from the school
• Your university list is full of prestigious schools but you can’t articulate why they are good fits for you
• Your application would be stronger (not perfect) with more time
• You need another semester of grades to show you are a good applicant

Is Early Action right for me?

Early Action (non-binding) is right for you if:

• You want to increase your chance of admission and are already a good candidate 
• You want to indicate your high interest in the school and want to hear back early
• The school is on your school list after you have extensively researched the school
• You can submit a high-quality application with the shorter timeline
• You have given your recommenders and guidance counselor enough time to submit information by the deadline

Early Action (non-binding ) is not right for you if:

• You need more time to research schools
• You need more time to submit a higher-quality application
• Your recommenders and guidance counselor need more time to meet the deadline

Is Restrictive Early Action or Single-choice Early Action right for me?

Restrictive Early Action is only offered by a few schools. If your number one school only offers Restrictive Early Action, and you meet the criteria for Early Decision  then it may be the right move for you. Most of the schools offering Restrictive Early Action meet full financial need (provide generous financial aid). But you should know that it doesn’t mean they would provide the exact same amount of financial aid for each student. You will have to research the school’s policy on aid to international students. But if financial aid is not a limiting factor for you, then go for it!

Why do schools use Early Decision and Early Action Programs?

Life would be easier if all schools just had the same deadline! So why do schools have Early Decision and Early Action programs? Every school has an exact number/number range of students that they must enroll every fall. While there are some schools not solely dependent on student tuition, most schools need student tuition to continue operating. You may hear people use the term yield which is really just the number of students who enroll. A school must predict the number of students that will enroll with accuracy in order to avoid problems.

If the school enrolls too many students, they may not have enough room for them. They likely do not have extra dorms to house students and would end up with overcrowded classrooms that exceed their student-to-faculty ratios. But if the schools do not enroll enough students, then revenue declines and budgets need to be cut.

But by providing Early Decision and Early Action programs, schools can “lock in” top students early on instead of releasing admission decisions at the same time without knowing how many students will commit. Any information about the student’s level of interest is important to colleges which is another reason why demonstrated interest can be a major factor for some schools. BUT all of this can benefit the student who is a strong applicant and ready to apply early. 

If there is one thing you should take from this, it’s that you need to start researching schools as early as possible to find the right school for you. This is especially true for international students who could benefit from financial aid.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are early decision release dates?

Every school is different but many early decision deadlines are around December with some schools releasing decisions a little early. 

Does early decision increase chances? 

Yes!  Early decision does help and does increase your chances. 

Is early decision worth it?

If by “worth it” you mean worth all the trouble of applying early, then that depends on how early you started the application process and if you are already a strong applicant. If you started the process late and you’re not very strong, then you are likely to go through all that trouble and still not be admitted. At the latest, you should begin the research and application process in your second to last year of secondary school.

Is early decision binding?

Early decision is binding. 

Conclusion

If you are a strong applicant and comfortable with the financial aid that is offered to international students, and can devote the time, then apply early decision (ED), early action (EA)!