Early Action application process on the Common App—Help?

Yo, could someone tell me how to apply for Early Action using the Common App? I understand the concept of EA but I'm not entirely sure how to indicate this on the application. Is there a box I need to check, or a different process I should be aware of?

Absolutely, happy to help with that! When you're working through your Common Application, applying for Early Action is pretty straightforward. After you've added the colleges you're interested in to your 'My Colleges' list, you'll notice that each college has a section where you have to select your preferred admission plan. For schools that offer Early Action, this will be one of the options you can choose.

So, yes, essentially it is a box you'll check to indicate your preference. Make sure you pay attention to the dates, though; each college might have a different deadline for when Early Action applications need to be submitted. Also, before you make the decision to apply Early Action, check if the colleges you're considering have a 'restrictive' or 'single-choice' Early Action policy, which means you could be limited to applying early to just that one school.

It's always good to double-check these policies on the college's admissions website to ensure you're following the rules. Lastly, don’t forget to complete all the other sections of the application, including your personal information, education, testing, activities, and the college-specific supplements that each school might require. Hope this makes the process a bit clearer!