Should I Choose Early Action or Regular Decision at Harvard?

I'm super stressed about applying to Harvard next year and can't decide between early action or regular decision. What are the main differences in terms of admission chances and financial aid? Would love some advice from those who have already decided!

Deciding between Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD) certainly can be stressful, but the choice ultimately depends on a number of factors.

Here are a few key differences between EA and RD:

1. Decision Timing: With EA, you submit your application usually by November of your senior year and would typically receive your admissions decision by mid-December. RD applications are usually due in January with decisions released around late March or early April.

2. Admissions Chances: On average, applying EA can boost your chances at highly selective schools, including Harvard. Statistically, the rate of acceptance for EA is higher than it is for RD. However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's easier to get accepted EA, as the EA applicant pool often consists of a high concentration of extremely competitive applicants.

3. Financial Aid: Your chance for financial aid is the same whether you apply EA or RD. You will need to verify this information specifically with Harvard as policies can vary, but generally speaking, financial aid decisions are separate from admissions decisions.

Here's a tip: if Harvard is your top choice and the financial implications aren't concerning (either you can afford full tuition or you have checked their net price calculator and are pleased with the estimated financial aid), EA can be a good option; the sooner you finish the process, the better.

EA also offers the benefit of learning about your acceptance earlier, allowing you to make other college application decisions accordingly.

On the other hand, if you think an additional few months would significantly strengthen your application (i.e., you have a major accomplishment pending or you want your first semester senior grades to count), then RD might be a better choice for maximizing your admissions chances. Nonetheless, it’s best to submit the strongest application you can, whenever that may be!