What is the downside of early action?

Your record might stand out more when competing with those in the regular admissions cycle. You can't compare and negotiate financial aid offers unless you receive them form several schools. Early on, it's much harder to tell where close friends (or even enemies) may be going to college.

Is there a disadvantage to applying early action?

Reduced financial aid opportunities: Students who apply under ED plans receive offers of admission and financial aid simultaneously and so will not be able to compare financial aid offers from other colleges. For students who absolutely need financial aid, applying early may be a risky option.

Is early action really worth it?

Applying early can be a good idea if you're sure about which college you want to attend. That means you've researched its programs and, if possible, visited its campus. But think twice about applying early if: You want to compare admission and financial aid offers from several colleges.

Does early action make a big difference?

Early action deadlines usually fall at the same time as early decision. The obvious advantage of early action over early decision is the opportunity it gives you to apply to, and ultimately compare financial aid packages from several schools.

Does early action affect acceptance rate?

Applying early action definitely does increase your chance of getting accepted. It can more than double your chance; for example, at Harvard, the EA acceptance rate was 16%, whereas regular decision was 6%. Harvard filled almost half their class through EA.

How College Admissions Works - Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Admissions & all the rest

Is it better to apply early action or regular?

The admission rates in the early application pool also tend to be higher, even though the pool is typically more competitive than the regular round. However, because the early round is full of extremely competitive applicants, it's not always the best choice for every student.

What happens if you get accepted early action and don't go?

Since early decision is binding, applicants should only apply under this admission plan after careful consideration. Breaking an early decision offer can come with major penalties — some high schools may even withhold transcripts from other colleges.

Is early action risky?

The Drawbacks of Applying Early

For students who absolutely need financial aid, applying early may be a risky option. Time crunch for other applications: Most colleges do not notify ED and EA applicants of admission until December 15.

What are the pros and cons of early action?

What grades do early action look at?

Keep earning strong grades

Many selective universities now actually require the submission of one's first quarter senior year grades with early applications. Boston University, Duke University, Tufts University, and Babson College all mandate the submissions of Q1 grades for all who apply early.

Are you more likely to get accepted with early action?

Early action often does not offer a higher acceptance rate but provides the benefit of learning early what the admission decision from the college is. On the other hand, students often do benefit from getting their application in early.”

Why do I regret applying early decision?

Students who regret their decision to apply ED are usually unhappy because of the financial aid package they receive. Early-decision students usually know what they're in for when they apply, but your financial aid package is one thing that you can't predict. The college bill can take anyone by surprise.

Can I apply to multiple schools early action?

Yes. Unlike early decision, early action isn't a binding offer, meaning you can apply to multiple schools. You have the option to submit several applications under early action. Even with early action decisions, you don't have to decide immediately.

Why doesn t everyone apply early action?

Early Decision is the most restrictive and time-sensitive college application process in most schools. Those who apply Early Decision may only apply to one school using this option because if they are accepted, they are required to attend that college.

Who should not apply early decision?

You're strongly considering other schools

It's completely possible to be in love with multiple schools, but you can't apply to more than one for early decision. You should, however, apply to other schools via regular decision if you don't get accepted to your early decision school.

Does early action look at senior grades?

But what happens if you've applied to college as an Early Decision or Early Action applicant? Most colleges will still want to be sent grades from your first quarter of senior year. However, their decision to accept or reject you into their institution will have already been made based on your grades from junior year.

Can you apply both early action and regular decision?

Generally, you apply to multiple colleges through Early Action (some schools only allow single-choice Early Action) and apply to other schools via Regular Decision. Early Action lets you compare financial aid packages and other offers, giving you more time to find your best-fit college at the right price.

What happens if you decline early decision?

Most of the time, they will let students walk away without holding them financially responsible; however, they may put that student's reputation on the line. Some schools share their list of students who have backed out of their ED commitment without an acceptable reason to the other schools to which they applied.

What happens if you get accepted early action?

Because an Early Action decision is non-binding — meaning you don't have to attend if accepted — students have the option to accept the offer or continue to pursue admission at other colleges through their regular or rolling admission programs.

Can you decline a university after being accepted?

Technically, you do not have to officially decline a college acceptance. If you ignore a college acceptance letter, admissions will consider that the same as a rejection. However, it's more respectful to decline.

How many schools can you apply early action?

EA can come in different forms, but standard Early Action is non-binding. You can apply to as many schools EA as you'd like, and you're under no obligation to attend if you're accepted.

How much does early action increase chances?

On average, students applying ED see a 1.6x (or 60%) increase in their chances of admission to very selective schools. This effect is lessened the less selective the school is. Early action doesn't offer as significant a boost as early decision, but it still does provide some admissions advantage.

Can I apply both restrictive early action and early action?

Restrictive early action is a middle ground between early action and early decision. Students may only apply to their first-choice early action institution, with some exceptions. They cannot apply to any early decision schools, but can apply to other early action schools.

What schools are restrictive early action?

This list includes results from American University, Boston College, Boston University, Brown, Bucknell, Colorado College, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Fairfield, Florida State University (in-state), Fordham, Georgetown, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern (Boston Campus), Notre Dame, Rice, Santa Clara University, the University of ...

What happens if you get into two early decision schools?

While EA allows you to submit an application early, it is non-binding and does not confer the same admissions boost as applying Early Decision. You can of course apply to both schools, but remember that ED is binding, and if both offer you a place, you will be obligated to attend the school you applied to ED.