Hi, I'm a little confused about the Early Action process. If a college doesn't accept you during EA, do they just defer you to the Regular Decision pool or can you also get rejected outright? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Hi! I can understand how the Early Action (EA) process can be confusing. In the EA round, there are actually three possible outcomes for your application: accepted, deferred, or rejected. While deferral to the Regular Decision pool is quite common, outright rejection is also a possibility.
When you're deferred, it means that your application will be reconsidered during the Regular Decision round, allowing the admissions committee more time to evaluate your application and compare it to the entire applicant pool. A deferral isn't necessarily a negative outcome, as your chances for admission are still open.
On the other hand, outright rejection in the EA round means that the admissions committee has decided not to offer you a place in the entering class. This decision is final.
It's important to note that these outcomes can vary based on the specifities of the EA policy for each school. While some schools may lean more towards deferrals, others might have higher rates of rejection. In either case, it's crucial to focus on presenting the strongest application possible, regardless of the decision round.
Good luck with your college applications!
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