Early application deadlines are looming. Some of the southern schools like UNC Chapel Hill and USC have an EA deadline of October 15. Most are November 1. A few are 12/1. But how do you know which is the right deadline for you?
Let’s start with some definitions
Early Action (EA): You apply early and find out early (often by December or January) if you’ve been accepted, denied, or deferred to the Regular Decision pool.
- You know early in the process if you’ve been accepted.
- You have until May 1 to decide if you want to attend this school.
- You can apply to as many schools as you want EA.
- You do NOT have to accept the offer of admission.
Early Decision (ED): definitions: You apply early and find out early (often by December or January) if you’ve been accepted, denied, or deferred to the Regular Decision pool.
- ED is similar to EA, but the major difference is with ED you are signing a binding agreement which commits you to attending this school.
- You can only apply to one school ED.
- Best suited for applicants with a strong 9th – 11th grade academic record and have their applications, essays, and supporting documents like recommendation letters ready to go.
Restrictive Early Action (REA): You apply early and find out early (often by December or January) if you’ve been accepted, denied, or deferred to the Regular Decision pool.
- REA falls somewhere in the middle of EA and ED.
- You have until May 1 to decide if you want to attend this school.
- You do NOT have to accept the offer of admission.
- You cannot apply to another school ED, but usually can apply to other schools EA.
Regular Decision (RD): You have more time to apply than EA, ED, and REA (usually the deadline is in January or February) and are notified by April 1 if you have been accepted, denied, or offered a spot on the wait list.
- You have until May 1 to decide if you want to attend this school.
- You do NOT have to accept the offer of admission.
- If you are offered a place on the wait list, it’s your choice whether or not you want to accept it. (Check out this blog for more details on the wait list.)
Which deadline is right for me?
EA, ED, and REA are best suited for applicants with a strong 9th – 11th grade academic record. They have their applications, essays, and supporting documents like recommendation letters ready to go.
RD may be a better fit if your grades fell off a bit junior year and they’re on the upswing or if you’re planning to take the ACT/SAT again after the early deadlines. It may also be a better choice if you’re not sure where you want to go to college or what you want to study and need more time to decide.
As always, be sure to check the specific requirements of the schools you are planning to apply to be sure you are following their application rules.
Need help deciding? Contact me.