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November 1st marks the deadline for most Early Action and Early Decision applications, admissions pathways that offer students an alternative to the traditional Regular Decision application. Strategically submitting applications in the early round can provide motivated students an advantage in the admissions process, often increasing their odds of admission to their dream school. However, before applying in November, it is essential to understand the differences between the various types of early applications, as well as the advantages that they can confer.
What is the difference between Early Decision and Early Action?
Different schools have distinct offerings and requirements for the early application round—the two most common are Early Action and Early Decision, but students may also have the option to apply Restrictive Early Action (sometimes called Single Choice Early Action) or Early Decision II. Early Action is non-binding and non-restrictive, which means that students are not bound to attend the school if accepted and they are welcome to apply Early Action to as many schools on their list as they would like. Early Decision, on the other hand, is both binding and restrictive—if a student is accepted, they are obligated to attend their ED school (with some very limited exceptions) and they can only apply ED to one school.
Restrictive / Single Choice Early Action is non-binding and restrictive, so while students are not required to enroll if accepted, they may not apply to other schools in the Early Action round. Note that Early Action restrictions vary from school to school, and many private schools allow simultaneous, non-binding applications to public schools. Finally, Early Decision II has the same restrictions as ED, but allows students to apply later in the application cycle (deadlines typically coincide with RD deadlines).
Why should you apply Early Decision or Early Action?
There are many reasons for students to apply ED/EA, but the top three include:
1. Increased Chances of Admission for Highly Qualified Students
One of the most compelling reasons to apply EA or ED is the increased likelihood of admission to your top choice school. Early admissions rates at top schools tend to be significantly higher than Regular Decision rates. For instance, Harvard University reported an early acceptance rate of 8.74% to the Class of 2028, compared to 3.59% overall; Emory’s early acceptance rate was 32%, compared to the school’s overall admissions rate of 14.5%; meanwhile, Northwestern announced that about half of the students admitted to the school’s Class of 2028 were admitted in the early application cycle. This admissions advantage can be attributed in part to the fact that the early admissions round often features smaller (though steadily growing) applicant pools, yielding higher admissions rates. At the same time, though students are competing against fewer applicants, the early round tends to attract highly qualified applicants, making competition particularly fierce. This should be a major point of consideration in the decision making process, and students should only apply to a school Early Decision if they are extremely confident in the quality and caliber of their application.
2. Ability to Showcase Your Commitment to Your Dream School
Applying EA or ED is an excellent way to show your commitment to a particular school. For many colleges, especially highly selective ones, demonstrated interest is an important factor in the admissions process. By applying early, you’re not just expressing interest—you’re making a statement that this is your top choice school. In the case of ED, in which you’re obligated to attend if accepted, your dedication is clear and unequivocal, which can be a significant advantage when admissions committees are making their final decisions. Top colleges are invested in raising their yield rate, an important metric for rankings and other assessments. It is therefore advantageous for schools to admit a greater number of early applicants, as admitted students will almost definitely join their incoming class.
That being said, students applying ED should be absolutely confident in their interest in a school before submitting their application. If you have even the slightest concern about missing out on the opportunity to attend another school on your list, ED is likely not the right choice for you.
3. Peace of Mind Knowing That You’re Done with Applications
The college application process can be a stressful marathon, but applying early can help you cross the finish line sooner. Students who apply early—whether they are accepted or not—have the benefit of completing their Common App essay and Activities List, and compiling their transcripts and letters of recommendation long before the Regular Decision deadline, alleviating last-minute application anxiety. If accepted, students can put the stress of the application process behind them before the second semester of their senior year. If they receive a rejection or deferral, students have the critical opportunity to re-evaluate their materials and consider ways that they can sharpen their essays, enhance their resumes, and improve their Activities List descriptions before submitting their regular decision applications.
Which top schools have the highest early admissions rates?
While applying early gives students a boost at most schools that offer the option, there is a particularly drastic difference between admissions rates in the early round versus regular decision rounds at some top schools. Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Duke, UPenn, and Vanderbilt are some of the top schools that accepted more than half of their incoming students during the early application round in 2023. Perhaps the most significant boost is found at Tulane, where a whopping 68% of early decision applicants were accepted to the Class of 2028. While the difference is not quite as drastic at other schools, the boost remains significant—early admissions rates were more than double the regular decision rates at schools such as Claremont McKenna, Johns Hopkins, and Vassar.
Applying Early Action or Early Decision can be a strategic move that not only increases your chances of admission but also showcases your commitment to your dream school and alleviates some of the stress of application season. However, students should be assured in their first-choice school and ensure that their applications are polished and perfected by the November 1st deadline!
Originally posted on Forbes.
