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Some people are naturally early, detailed planners. Others are procrastinators who get everything done at the last minute. Regardless of which type of person you are, it’s important to keep deadlines in mind when you’re applying to college. While regular decision deadlines aren’t until the middle of the school year, there are two deadlines that come up much earlier and mean you might need to have your application ready before those regular deadlines: Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA). In this article, we’re going to delve into what the differences are and how to know what’s best for you.

Early Decision and Early Action – What’s the difference?

Early Decision and Early Action are two different early admission programs of applying for a college. The deadlines are earlier than regular action deadlines, and the decisions come out before regular applications are processed. There is one critical difference between ED and EA – for ED, an acceptance is binding. What does that mean? ED applicants receive an early response (usually by mid-December), but it comes with the requirement that if they accept you, you will go. That means ED can be a great option for your first choice dream school – but not so much if you’re a bit undecided.

There is greater freedom with Early Action. The applications are still due early, and the decisions come out around the same time as ED.  An EA acceptance is not binding, however. Students have time to think things over, to consider other possibilities until the reply date. They are not committed to a particular college, and have the option to decline an offer.  This can be a great option for students who are extremely anxious about the application process. Applying to a safety school EA can mean having at least one acceptance in your pocket, which is reassuring. 

That, in a nutshell, is EA and ED. Slight variations to these plans are common, such as ‘single choice early action’, which effectively is a hybrid between the two (restrictive EA). Different colleges offer different plans, some favoring EA and others ED. For detailed information, check out the application requirements of your particular college of choice or contact their admissions department for more info.

Benefits and drawbacks

At first, it might sound like a no-brainer between the two – EA. EA gives you flexibility and puts much of the power in your hands. However there are some major benefits and perks with ED. ED proves an applicants’ seriousness to the college. Colleges’ statistics are helped by accepting students who will accept them back. ED guarantees that you will be that kind of student for them. They can also better predict their incoming class, which has a variety of benefits for them (ever heard of students being packed into converted doubles due to over-enrollment? Colleges have to estimate how many accepted students which actually attend, and sometimes they get it wrong!) For students, decisions are made sooner which can save time, money, and stress. More time can be spent on getting ready for the college (e.g. choosing accommodation).

If one school is a clear frontrunner, applying ED can help improve your chances of getting in (especially if that school is a bit of a stretch school). However, it’s not the right choice for everyone and choosing ED just to avoid having your parents nag you about college applications isn’t necessarily a great choice!

Early decision and early action – what to remember

Although there are no requirements for EA and ED plans, make sure it’s the right move for you before you spend your resources on it. It’s highly recommended that you only apply ED for a college you are sure about: academically, socially and geographically. No ifs, ands, or buts – you need to be dead set on it. You also need to be organized, strong in your chosen field and confident. Remember this is a life decision, determining your life for the next four years or so; it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

As admission programs vary for different colleges, you should contact the college if you’re unsure about anything. At the end of the day, no one expects you to be an expert on these things! And that’s why we’re here, to help you navigate the process.