When is Early Action?

Hey folks, I'm a bit confused about the college application process. Can someone clarify when Early Action typically happens and how it differs from other types of admissions? Thanks!

Hello! I'm happy to help clarify Early Action (EA) and how it differs from other types of admissions.

Early Action typically has a deadline around November 1st or 15th, though specific deadlines can vary by college. It's a non-binding decision, which means if you're accepted, you're not obligated to attend that school. You'll receive an admissions decision in mid-December to January and, if accepted, you generally have until the national decision day, May 1st, to decide whether to commit.

Now let's touch on how EA differs from other types of admissions:

1. Regular Decision (RD): RD is the standard application process with deadlines typically falling between January 1st and February 1st. Decisions are usually sent out around March or April, and admitted students typically have until May 1st (national decision day) to decide whether to attend. Unlike EA, applying RD does not give you any potential timing advantage in finding out an admissions decision.

2. Early Decision (ED): ED is similar to EA in terms of deadline (around November 1st or 15th) and decision notification dates (mid-December to January), but it's a binding agreement. If you're accepted to a school through ED, you're committing to attend that school and must withdraw any other applications you've submitted. It's crucial to apply ED only if you're sure the school is your top choice and affordability isn't a major concern.

3. Rolling Admissions: Some schools practice rolling admissions, in which they review applications as they are received and send out decisions throughout the application season. Applying through rolling admissions gives you more flexibility on when to submit your application and means you may hear back sooner, depending on when you apply.

In summary, Early Action is a non-binding application process with earlier deadlines than Regular Decision. Applying EA can give you a potential advantage in learning your admission decision earlier, but you're not committed to attend the school if accepted. This contrasts with Early Decision, which is a binding commitment, and Regular Decision, which follows standard deadlines.

Good luck with your college applications!