Early Action (EA)

Early Action allows students to apply to colleges earlier than the Regular Decision timeline, typically with deadlines falling between November 1 and November 15. Students who apply EA usually receive their admissions decision by mid-December. One of the biggest benefits of Early Action is that it is non-binding, meaning students are not obligated to attend if admitted. This option is ideal for students who are prepared early and want the advantage of knowing their status sooner. Some universities offer a Restrictive or Single-Choice Early Action option, which limits applicants from applying EA to other private institutions, though public universities are usually excluded from this restriction.

Early Decision (ED)

Early Decision is another early application plan, but unlike Early Action, it is binding. This means students who are accepted under ED must commit to attending that school and withdraw all other college applications. ED deadlines typically fall between November 1 and November 15, with decisions released by mid-December. Because of the commitment required, ED is best suited for students who have a clear first-choice school and are ready to submit a strong application early in the cycle. Some schools also offer an ED II option, with deadlines around January 1, for students who decide on their top choice later in the process.

Regular Decision (RD)

Regular Decision is the most common admissions cycle, with deadlines generally falling between January 1 and January 15. Decisions are typically released between March and early April. RD is non-binding, giving students the flexibility to apply to multiple schools and compare financial aid offers before making a final decision by May 1. This timeline provides more time to strengthen applications through improved grades, test scores, and additional activities during the fall of senior year.

Why you may want to apply EA or ED to one U.S. school

First, Early Decision or Early Admission generally has higher admission rates than Regular Decision. Universities admit different numbers of students in Early and Regular cycles. There is no definitive numerical advantage we can provide for applying early, since universities usually do not disclose this information. Nevertheless, schools may fill up to half of their incoming class in the early cycle despite significantly fewer applicants in that pool. Thus, the early application cycles offer a definitive advantage over regular decision. Why is this the case? It’s because admission offices care about their school’s yield rate. A yield rate (aka “the rate of enrollment”) is the percentage of admitted students who enroll at the university. American universities typically strive for a high yield rate, meaning that they want to admit students they are fairly confident will enroll at their university once admitted. The most persuasive way to demonstrate a student’s commitment to a school is by applying in an Early Action or a binding Early Decision cycle. 

Second, schools may offer financial need-based or merit-based aid on a rolling basis. Most schools admit students on a rolling basis. Given that financial and merit-based aid is often limited, schools will generally award more financial aid and merit-based scholarships to students who apply earlier in the cycle. This is not to say that you cannot receive financial aid by applying later. Every school has their own rules and restrictions for distributing financial aid, particularly to international students. Knowing the guidance around financial aid to your top schools will be essential to picking which (if any) school you will apply early to. 

Why you may not want to apply EA or ED

Despite offering many advantages in the admissions cycle, applying early is not for everyone. Many students do not have a school that they want to 100% commit to and would prefer to keep their options open as their academic interests evolve. Students can still increase their odds of admission by demonstrating a strong interest in a school through other means, such as writing strong supplemental essays, engaging with school alumni or current students, attending virtual tours, attending admission office events, etc. 

Admissions officers also know that you may be balancing numerous commitments and cannot plan for unexpected personal events that may delay your application. As a rule of thumb, you should prioritize presenting the strongest application possible to the committee. If that means taking an extra week to read over your essays for spelling errors or think through your academic goals, that is completely fine! Your mentor will help you choose which, if any, school you should apply early to!