Deciding Between Early Action and Early Decision: Your Guide to Making the Choice
Applying to college can be a daunting task, but understanding the options available can make the process less stressful. Two popular options for early admission are Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED).
Early Action is a non-binding option, meaning that if you are admitted, you are not obligated to attend the school. Conversely, Early Decision is a binding commitment, meaning that if you are admitted, you agree to attend the school.
At Harvard University, the higher admissions rate for restrictive early action students is attributed to the quality of the applicants, rather than their timing. This is also true for many competitive institutions, including Ivy League schools, which offer restrictive early action for students to demonstrate strong interest in the school.
You can apply for Early Action at multiple schools, but you can only apply to one school under Early Decision. It's essential to note that there is no relevant information about which university accepts Early Decision applications the earliest or makes decisions the earliest.
Applying early allows you to consider all of your options if you are denied admission under early admissions, as regular decision deadlines are usually in January and acceptance decisions under regular decision are typically released during March and April.
The Common Application allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once, making it easier to apply early to one or more schools. This means that you will need to gather all your application materials earlier than if you'd applied regular decision.
If you are a competitive applicant with strong letters of recommendation, a high GPA, a rigorous course load, a well-written personal statement, and competitive SAT/ACT scores, early admissions options may be beneficial. However, you should consider a school's average or projected financial aid package before applying early action or early decision, as some schools may offer more competitive packages.
Keep track of the most common college application deadlines with this guide. If rejected from Early Decision, you may still have a chance for admission through the regular application pool, but most Early Decision rejections are final. Schools typically send out Early Action decisions from December to February, and Early Decision decisions in December.
Applying early to colleges may raise your chances of being accepted at certain institutions. For example, Brown University has a 17.9% acceptance rate for Early Decision applicants, while Dartmouth College has a 17% early decision acceptance rate and a 5.4% acceptance rate for the entire class. Harvard University has an 8.74% early action rate and a total admissions rate of 3.6%.
In conclusion, Early Action and Early Decision can be valuable options for students who want to increase their chances of getting into competitive colleges. However, it's essential to consider the pros and cons of each option and to plan accordingly to ensure that all application materials are ready on time. If you're unsure about your competitiveness for your top schools, getting a college counselor's help might be a smart choice.
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