Early Decision vs. Early Action: Which Should You Choose?

📅 What Are ED and EA?

• Early Decision (ED): A binding application. If admitted, you must enroll. Best for students who have a clear first-choice school.

• Early Action (EA): A non-binding application. You can apply to multiple EA schools and are not obligated to attend if admitted.

📆 Typical Deadlines (Exact dates vary by school)

• ⏳ ED & EA Application Deadline: Usually November 1st or 15th

• ⏳ Decision Release Date: Typically by mid-December

📌 Who Should Consider Each Option?

🎯 ED is ideal for students who: ✔️ Have a definite dream school and are ready to commit ✔️ Have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and essays already prepared ✔️ Are comfortable with the financial commitment (can’t compare aid offers after ED admission)

🎯 EA is great for students who: ✔️ Want to receive admissions results early but keep their options open ✔️ Plan to apply to multiple schools and maximize chances of acceptance ✔️ Need time to evaluate financial aid and scholarships

⚠️ Special Note: REA (Restrictive Early Action) Some top universities offer Restrictive Early Action, which is non-binding but comes with limitations:

• You cannot apply ED anywhere else

• You can usually only apply to one private university under EA

• Examples include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and others

If you have any questions towards college application, feel free to reach out to us, our consultants are more than happy to provide more insights to you! 

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