Hey guys, I'm planning on applying to a few schools through Early Action this year, and I'm curious about the possible outcomes. I know being accepted or deferred are two possibilities, but is it also possible to be waitlisted during Early Action? Thank you!
Hello there! It's fantastic that you're getting ahead by learning about the different outcomes of Early Action (EA) applications. In the vast majority of cases, universities will either accept, deny, or defer EA applicants to the regular decision pool. A deferral essentially means the college wants to review your application within the context of the regular decision applicant pool before making a final decision. Being waitlisted as a result of EA is quite rare.
However, a few institutions might have policies where they waitlist students during the EA phase. It's not the norm, so you'd need to check the specific admissions policies of each college you're applying to. For example, the University of Virginia has been known to waitlist a small number of early applicants. Schools that offer both Early Decision and Early Action might have different policies for each. Best of luck with your Early Action applications!
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