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Deciding what college to attend is enough to stress any student. This process comes with many questions: Which college will be a good fit? Which will prepare you for the career you want? And which school is worth the cost?
With so many questions on the table, does it make sense for you to commit early to one college? And if so, should you apply early action, or early decision? We’re here to help you sort out your options.
Early decision applications are tailored for students who are laser-focused on their ideal college and don’t have to worry about financial aid offers. Those who want more leeway can apply early action, which allows them to learn about their admissions decisions early but still weigh competing financial aid offers.
The College Board reports that around 450 colleges offer early decision, early action or both. Weigh the pros and cons of early action, early decision and regular decision before applying to college.
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What Is Early Decision?
With early decision applications, students apply to one college early, usually by November, and agree to attend if admitted, which they typically find out in December. Early decision applications are considered binding; students are expected not to apply to any other colleges.
Pros of Early Decision
- Students can find out early if they’ve earned admission to their top college. If not, they can research other options before regular decision deadlines or, if time allows, early action deadlines.
- Students get the stress and uncertainty of college admissions out of the way early.
- Students have more time to figure out the logistics of moving closer to campus.
- Students have more time to plan their class schedule.
- Students might have a better chance if they apply within a smaller pool of applicants.
Cons of Early Decision
- Students who need to shop around for the best financial aid deals are at a disadvantage when applying early decision. Colleges usually don’t offer the full financial aid package so early in the admissions cycle.
- Students may regret their decisions if they change their minds later.
- Students who go back on their agreements may create tension between the college’s admissions office and their high school counselor.
- Students risk being rejected during early decision because their application materials were weaker than they would have been if they waited for a later application cycle. Most colleges do not allow students to reapply until the subsequent year.
- Students must submit a nonrefundable deposit earlier.
Who Should Apply Early Decision?
If you know without a doubt which school is your No. 1 choice—and you want to impress that desire upon the admissions office—consider applying early decision.
Conduct extensive research to ensure you meet or exceed the college’s admission requirements. If you need more time to strengthen your application, wait. Otherwise, you risk being rejected and barred from applying until the following year.
Although early decision admission may not work for students who require financial aid, it’s a viable option for students who don’t have to worry about paying for college.
Is Early Decision Legally Binding?
No. High school students on the cusp of adulthood have free agency over themselves and their college decisions. You can back out of an early decision admission if, for example, you cannot afford to attend and the college does not offer enough financial aid.
Admissions teams may try to pressure you, your parents or your counselor to adhere to your early decision agreement, but at the end of the day, you are free to apply elsewhere.
What Is Early Action?
Early action allows students to apply to multiple colleges at the same time, typically by December, and find out whether they have been admitted by January or February—earlier than most regular decision applicants.
Early action applications are not binding, allowing students to freely compare financial aid offers and decide which college best meets their academic and financial needs.
Pros
- Students have more time to determine whether they qualify for scholarships, financial aid and student loans. Students can even play schools off each other by asking them to match or exceed a package from another college. (In such cases, students should be prepared to show proof of such an offer.)
- Students learn admission decisions in January or February, rather than April, when most regular decision applicants find out.
- Students get the stress of applications and admission decisions out of the way early.
Cons
- Students may ruin their chances of being admitted into their top schools if their application materials are not as strong as they could be. They may need more time to boost their grades and standardized test scores.
Who Should Apply Early Action?
If you know your top schools but still want choices, you should apply early action. Even if you already know your absolute top college, applying early action might provide you with scholarship or financial aid counteroffers to help you negotiate a better deal at your No. 1 choice.
What Is Regular Decision?
In the traditional application process, students submit applications in January or February, and colleges announce admission decisions in March or April.
Pros
- Students have more time to strengthen their application materials by increasing their GPA, earning higher SAT or ACT scores, and perfecting their college essays and letters of recommendation.
- Acceptance letters are nonbinding, and students have more time to submit their deposit.
- Students may be seen as ideal applicants after admissions committees have sifted through early action and early decision applicants.
- Students can compare competing financial aid offers and try to negotiate a better offer from their top schools.
Cons
- Students usually learn of their admission status in April, which can lead to undue stress.
- Students may feel rushed to decide by May 1, National College Decision Day.
- On-campus housing vacancies may be limited.
Who Should Apply Regular Decision?
Students whose applications may not be able to compete with early action or early decision pools should wait for the regular decision cycle. Also, students may want to follow the traditional timeline and enjoy their senior year—with all its highs and lows—alongside the majority of other college-bound graduates.
Factors To Consider Before Applying Early
Still unsure whether to apply for early admission? The following considerations can help you decide.
Applicant Readiness
You want to submit the best application materials you can. This may mean waiting until your GPA has improved, deciding whether the SAT or ACT best demonstrates your potential, and retaking those standardized tests to earn a higher score. In this situation, wait for early action or regular decision to ensure you submit the most robust application possible.
Relocation Timeline
If you intend to move away from home to attend college, consider the logistics and timeline carefully. Consider factors such as dorm waitlists, off-campus rental prices and the availability of popular classes.
Competitive Admissions
Highly selective colleges—sometimes called “highly rejective” colleges—remain exclusive by admitting a tiny percentage of applicants. Because popular perception argues that applying earlier improves admission odds, students pursuing highly sought-after spots see early action as a safer bet. When you consider that early-action applicants may not need financial aid, the competitive early application process gets even murkier.
As the Common App makes applying to college easier and more schools embrace early action, colleges have increased their number of deferrals. Colleges may hedge their bets and waitlist students who apply during early action, in case more ideal applications arrive during the regular decision period. Students admitted to multiple schools could take the same initiative, making colleges compete for their best offer.
Tips and Strategies for Early Applications
To increase your chances, make sure you meet or exceed the college’s admissions requirements. Submit a well-rounded application that includes competitive grades, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, personal essays and extracurricular activities.
Give your letter of recommendation writers ample time to craft convincing letters. Talk to them about why you want to attend those colleges and your reasons for choosing your major. The more detailed their letter, the more of an impression it will make on the admissions committee.
Take your SAT or ACT no later than October to ensure the scores arrive before the application deadline.
Contact an admissions representative and ask for a frank conversation about your chances of admission during any application cycle. Discuss typical financial aid offers for someone of your economic background.
Matriculating in dual-enrollment programs, taking AP classes and completing free online courses can demonstrate your preparedness for the rigors of college.
Early Admission Tips and Tricks
- If your application could be more robust, don’t submit it during early application cycles. Assess your materials holistically and work to improve your GPA, standardized test scores and letters of recommendation.
- If you aren’t 100% certain about your No. 1 college, don’t apply early decision.
- If you aren’t sure how you will finance college, do your research and talk with your college counselor. You may want to save money by starting at a community college with an articulation agreement with four-year universities.
- If you were waitlisted, learn what that means and how you can improve your chances of admission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Early Action vs. Early Decision
Is applying early decision the same as early action?
No. Early action is “binding” in that it asks you to apply to one college and commit to attending if accepted. Early decision is “nonbinding,” allowing you to find out early if you have been accepted by multiple colleges before deciding which one to attend.
What is the difference between early action and early decision in law school?
Just as in undergraduate admissions, early action allows applicants to find out their admission status early but still allows them to compare offers. Early decision is considered “binding” and requires students to withdraw applications from other law schools.
Is it harder to get in on early action or regular decision?
It depends on the admissions cycle and other applications. Because early decision and early action applicants tend to submit exceptionally strong materials, they might have a higher chance of being accepted. It all depends on a variety of factors unique to each year’s admissions cycle.
Does early action or early decision increase your chances?
In many cases, yes. Although most colleges are hesitant to admit it, students who apply during early action have a higher chance of being admitted.
