Notre Dame: Early Action vs. Regular Decision?

I'm debating whether to apply to Notre Dame via early action or regular decision. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option? I'm worried about missing out on an opportunity if I choose regular decision.

Applying Early Action (EA) to Notre Dame can potentially increase your chances of being admitted - you're demonstrating your strong interest and commitment towards the school, which can be beneficial. However, just because you apply EA doesn't guarantee acceptance, the factors that go into the decision are just as comprehensive as if you applied Regular Decision (RD).

Here's a more detailed break-down of each option:

Early Action: If Notre Dame is one of your top choices, applying EA could be a good strategy. The advantage here is that you'll receive an admissions decision before the end of the calendar year, which can greatly reduce stress if you're admitted. Plus, you’re not obligated to attend if accepted. However, applying EA usually means preparing your application earlier in the Fall, which can be a disadvantage if you need more time to improve your academic profile, finalize your college essay or gather recommendation letters.

Regular Decision: On the other hand, applying RD gives you more time to work on your application. This could allow you to add first-semester senior year grades to your transcript or further build up your extracurricular profile. If you think these aspects of your application could significantly strengthen your candidacy, the additional months provided by the RD deadline might be beneficial.

One thing to note, historically, Notre Dame's early action acceptance rate has been higher than its regular decision acceptance rate. While this data can change each year, it's something to keep in mind. On average, applying EA is going to result in a 1.6x or a 60% increase in your chances of admission to super selective schools like Notre Dame.

Overall, the ultimate decision should come down to when you feel your application will be at its strongest and which strategy will cause you the least stress.