Is it possible to apply early decision and early action at the same time?

Hi, I'm wondering if I'm allowed to apply both early decision and early action to different schools. I have a top-choice college that I'd like to apply to with early decision, but I'm also interested in applying early action to other schools to get my results sooner. Can I do both simultaneously or do I have to choose one? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi there! It sounds like you're eagerly planning for the college application process. Let me help clarify the difference between early decision (ED) and early action (EA) and whether you can apply to both simultaneously.

First off, the good news is that yes, you can apply to both early decision and early action at the same time, but there are some important points to keep in mind. Early decision is a binding commitment, which means if you're accepted, you must attend that school and withdraw all other applications. Early action, on the other hand, is non-binding, allowing you to apply to as many EA schools as you'd like, and you're not obligated to attend if accepted.

You can apply ED to one school and EA to several others. For instance, my own child did this by applying ED to their top-choice school and EA to a few additional schools they were interested in. Remember, you can't apply ED to multiple colleges, but applying EA to multiple colleges is allowed. Be sure to double-check each college's application requirements and deadlines.

Make sure you weigh your options carefully and evaluate schools based on your financial, academic, and personal needs. Best of luck with your college applications!