Early Action Applications: What's the limit?

I'm planning on applying to colleges early action, but I'm not sure how many I can apply to. Is there a limit on the number of early action applications you can send? Any help would be appreciated!

There's no set limit on the number of Early Action (EA) applications you can submit, as long as the schools you're applying to all accept non-restrictive EA applications. Unlike Early Decision (ED) applications, EA applications are non-binding, meaning you're not committing to attend if accepted.

However, be aware of the different types of EA applications: non-restrictive and restrictive. Non-restrictive EA allows you to apply to multiple schools early; Restrictive EA (also known as Single Choice Early Action or REA) limits you to only one early application at that school, and you cannot apply ED or REA at any other private institutions (you are allowed to apply EA to public colleges or universities). You can still apply regular decision at other schools if you apply REA. To learn more about REA, check out this post on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-restrictive-early-action-when-applying-to-college.

While the flexibility of non-restrictive EA is enticing, do consider the time and effort you'll need to put into each application - it's important to strike a balance. Focusing on a select few of your top-priority schools for EA applications may allow you to submit stronger applications, rather than spreading yourself thin applying early to many schools at once.

Ultimately, the number of EA applications you submit should depend on your ability to manage the application workload and ensure that your applications remain strong and tailored to each school. But, there are no rules limiting the number of non-restrictive EA schools you apply to. Good luck with your college applications!