Those “early application” deadlines—Early Decision, Early Action, and their ilk—will be here before you know it. And you don’t want to let them pass you by (at least not without learning more about them).
Applying to college early is magical for a few reasons:
- You wrap up your college search and get your admission decisions that much sooner, which means less time stressing your brains out.
- You face a smaller applicant pool, which means you have a better chance of getting in.
- You are demonstrating how excited and committed you are to attending the school, which is something admission counselors love to see—and might even consider in admission decisions.
But first, here's the basic breakdown of the types of college deadlines students might encounter when applying for the upcoming fall semester:
- Early Action: Non-binding; with Early Action, you submit your application around November and usually get your decision by December. You can still apply to other schools. Some schools also split these deadlines, with an "Early Action I" falling a few weeks before "Early Action II" (but still before Regular Decision deadlines).
- Single Choice Early Action: Non-binding but exclusive; this deadline functions much like the typical Early Action deadlines, except you can only apply to one school this way (hence “single choice”). Not many schools offer this option, but for those that do, it shows you’re that much more interested in attending the institution.
- Early Decision: Binding; though Early Decision deadlines have a similar timeline to Early Action, it has one huge difference: by applying to a school Early Decision, you are agreeing to enroll if you are admitted. If accepted, you must contact the other colleges and withdraw those applications.
- Regular Decision: Non-binding; deadline for fall admission usually occurs in the preceding January or February, and students receive a decision by April.
- Rolling admission: Non-binding; schools with rolling admission deadlines accept applications until the programs fill up, often as late as April and through the summer.
So if you know where you want to go to college and can get your applications done sooner rather than later, you can take advantage of early application deadlines—but only after learning more about them to figure out if it's the right choice for you. Here we’ve compiled all the details you need to know, from the difference between Early Decision and Early Action deadlines to potential drawbacks to schools that accept lots of kids via early deadlines. So take a look and get moving!
- Early Bird Gets the Worm? Early Decision vs. Early Action: Make sure you understand the difference between Early Decision and Early Action!
- Early Decision, Early Action, Single Choice Early Action—what's the right one for me? Oh, and by the way, there’s more than just Early Decision and Early Action...
- The Pros and Cons of Applying Early: There are a lot of good reasons to apply early, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for everyone.
- Being the Early Bird: Early Decision and Its Importance: One admission expert streamlines the Early Decision discussion and provides some transparent bits of advice, clarifying the process and preparing students for what awaits them.
- Colleges that Accept Many Students through Early Decision: Sold on early applications? Start here. This list shows the percentages of students who applied Early Decision and were accepted.
- When and How to Apply for School: When is the best time to apply? There is no single correct answer to this question. Applying for college is as individualized as finding the right school.
