Early Admissions Cycles
Most colleges offer students a variety of opportunities to apply for admission. The purpose of this posting is to assist students and parents in better understanding the early admissions cycles and any advantages students might realize by choosing an early admissions cycle over another.
Early Decision I and II (ED)
Early Decision is a binding contract. Some colleges offer Early Decision I and Early Decision II with different application deadlines. Students may apply to only one college via Early Decision. If the student is accepted, the decision is binding, which means that the student must enroll in the college and should withdraw their applications from any other schools to which they have applied. However, if admitted students can convince the college that the financial aid award is inadequate, the student may be released from the commitment to attend. Student is free to apply to an unlimited number of colleges via their regular decision cycle.
Advantages: The Early Decision pool of applicants is typically much smaller than the regular admissions pool. At all but the most highly selective colleges the chances of being accepted are greater—sometimes, substantially greater. The student receives an early admissions response, typically by December 15 of the student’s senior year of high school. Admitted students who apply for financial aid will also receive their financial aid award letter.
Disadvantages: Students must apply early. Application deadlines are typically between October 15 and November 15 of the student’s senior year of high school. The decision is binding and the student must make a commitment to attend the college loses any opportunity of comparing award letters from other colleges. The student loses any application fees paid to colleges to which the student has applied.
Click here for the Wesleyan University Early Decision I and II options…
Early Action (AD)
Early Action in most respects is similar to Early Decision with one significant exception—it is nonbinding. Under the Early Action program, many colleges do not have a limit on the number of colleges to which students may apply Early Action.
Advantages: Same as Early Decision with the additional advantage of being able to apply to more than one college under their Early Action program.
Disadvantages: Same as Early Decision with the exception that the decision is nonbinding and the student may continue to compare options and award letters from other colleges.
Click here the University of Georgia Early Action policy…
Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA) [also known as Restricted Early Action]
Under the Single-Choice Early Action program, students may apply to only one college as an Early Action or Early Decision candidate. However, the policy may allow students to apply to the Early Action program at public universities. It is important to understand the restrictions of the college to which students apply under the college’s SCEA progam. As in the case with Early Action, the decision is nonbinding.
Advantages: Same as Early Decision.
Disadvantages: Same as Early Decision with the exception that the decision is nonbinding and the student may continue to compare options and award letters from other colleges.
Click here for the Stanford University policy…
Click here for the Harvard University policy…
The Early Action/Decision acceptance rate versus the acceptance rate through the regular decision process can widely vary by college. U.S. News & World Reports provides a listing comparing the acceptance rates between Eagle Action candidates and students who applied via the college’s regular admissions cycle. Click here to view the listing…
The CollegeData website provides opportunities to compare the admission rates at most colleges and universities.
Click here for an example of the Amherst College Early Decision rate at CollegeData…
Click here for the article, “Advice on Applying to Top U.S. Colleges via Early Decision or Early Action.”