Early action is non-binding application plan that provides a student with an early notification of decision, often in December. If admitted, the student is free to consider other offers of admission and other financial aid packages, and has until May 1 to make a final decision. There will sometimes be a higher acceptance rate in early action than in regular decision, but it can be tricky to draw causal relationships. The early applicant pool is often more highly motivated, and may represent stronger applicants in general; thus a higher acceptance rate.
Both Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) enable applicants to receive admissions notification relatively early (usually before Jan 1), and may improve a student’s prospects for admission, as well as his/her access to institutional funds. However, there are important differences between these admission programs. Early Action programs are non-binding, meaning that students are not obligated to attend if admitted. Students may also apply Early Action at multiple schools, unless they are applying to an institution with a Single Choice or Restrictive Early Action policy, such as Yale, Princeton or Stanford, for example. Early Decision programs are binding, meaning that students are required to attend if admitted. Students can apply ED to only one institution, and should be certain that the institution to which they are sending an ED application is indeed their first choice.
Early Action (EA): Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date. Early action plans are nonbinding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.
The difference between Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) is simple. Early Decision is a binding agreement between the student who is applying and the college that they are applying to that if accepted, they agree to enter that college. A form is signed in front of your guidance counselor attesting to this fact and you counselor signs it as well. Both EA and ED plans have early deadline dates, usually not later than November 1st.
The main difference between early decision (e.d.) and early action (e.a.) is your level of commitment. If you apply to a college via an e.d. program, you will be expected to attend if the college admits you, assuming it is possible for your family to pay the cost (few colleges will hold you to an e.d. commitment if they are unable to provide enough financial aid for you to be able to afford the cost of attendance so don’t let that stop you from appyling e.d. to a place you really like).
Early action = sooner notice. ED (only 1 school applied to) is a binding contract that if the student is accepted, they must send a letter to ALL other schools applied to to have their application withdrawn! They’re telling the school that financial aid is of no interest, only being accepted is. This can be a nightmare if aid is not forthcoming.
Early Action and Early Decision It is important to understand the various policies for students who wish to pursue Early Action and/or Early Decision programs.
Early action is a non-binding decision that you learn about before the normal deadline. You are compared to a smaller pool of applicants as a result of the earlier deadline. Early decision is a binding offer that commits you to that school. You can only apply ED to one school, so there won’t be any conflict from multiple acceptances.
Both Early Action and Early Decision allows students to get an admissions decision early. Students apply in the Fall and usually receive their decisions in December or January.
Because there may be several different deadlines throughout an admission cycle, it is important to understand what they mean. Often institutions will give their applicants an opportunity to apply during the fall of their senior year, around November, and then early in the spring semester, often but not in all cases on January 1 or January 15. Usually fall deadlines are considered ‘early.’ This is where you will hear early action and early decision. Both options allow you to apply earlier in the school year and receive notification by December. The main distinction is that if you apply early decision and are admitted, you are required to enroll. By contrast, applying early action is non-binding. Even if you are admitted, you do not have to decide until late in the spring after you have the opportunity to weigh other options. Students can only apply to one school early decision. Deciding to apply early decision means that the institution is absolutely your number 1 choice. Additionally, you and your family are willing to accept whatever financial aid package you are offered without the leverage of financial aid offers from other institutions. It’s useful to note that institutions may even have more than one early application deadline or they might have a hybrid version like Single-Choice Early Action, which allows you to apply early through a non-binding program but you may not apply to any other binding programs offered at other private institutions. The variation continues to evolve, so check with the institution directly for their most current policies.
Essentially, the difference lies in the commitment level you wish to give to a school. Early decision plans are a binding agreement to that university, that if accepted you will attend. Early Action, on the other hand simply puts you in an earlier batch of potential student candidates. Early Action allows for students to receive acceptance, denial, financial aid, and other information earlier than the normal timing.
Early Decision is a binding contract which means “No matter what I am going to come to your school if you chose me regardless of the financial aid or scholarship package I receive.”
Early decision (ED) is a binding agreement between you and a college in which you agree that you WILL attend that college should they offer you admission. You can only apply to 1 college ED. If you’re accepted, you have to withdraw all your other applications to other colleges. You’ll generally also need to turn in financial aid information early so that the college can provide you with estimated financial aid at the time of acceptance.
Early Decision
EARLY ACTION=NOT BINDING. EARLY DECISION: BINDING. Many kids want to apply early and find out out from a college. Students typically apply in October and November and find out before Christmas. If they apply EARLY DECISION, they must attend that college and pull out applications from others. EARLY ACTION applicants, do not have to attend if they get in. Early applications tend to privilege those who can afford college as Early DECISION is legally binding, and families have to be willing to accept the one financial aid package. They also privilege kids who do not need to rely on senior year fall grades, late fall test scores, and other factors to help promote them. EARLY DECISION acceptance rates tend to be much higher than regular acceptance rates. EARLY ACTION rates are not often that different. So families and kids have major decisions to make.
Early admission programs give you the chance to express your sincere desire to attend a certain school (or schools) and also have the added benefit of letting you know whether or not you were accepted in mid-December of your senior year.
A student may apply Early Decision to just one college. If the student is admitted, he or she must attend.
Early decision (ED) plans are binding. If accepted, the expectation is that the student will enroll. Early action (EA) plans are non-binding. Under EA, students can test the admissions process. If accepted, the student has until May 1 to notify the college of their decision. If a student has their heart set on a particular school and financial aid is not an issue, then going ED is not a bad thing. In fact, the acceptance rate is generally higher for ED applicants. If there is an ounce of doubt and/or financial aid will be very important to you and your family, pursue EA (if available) or the regular deadline.
Early decision (ED) is binding and if accepted the student must withdraw all other applications. Early action (EA) is not binding and the student is free to apply to other colleges and does not have to accept the EA offer until May 1st.
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