With early applications, you have three decisions to make:

1. Whether to apply early
2. To which college/s you want to apply early
3. Are you ready to commit to that one school if you apply Early Decision

Under a number of circumstances, applying “early” can increase your chances of getting accepted at your chosen college.

1. There are four kinds of early applications:

   Early Action (EA)

   • In this non-binding program, you apply by the 1st to 15th of November and receive an admissions decision by the middle of December. If admitted, you don’t have to reply until May 1 of the following year. EA colleges do not have any restrictions regarding how many other early applications you submit.
   • Restricted Early Action (REA)
     (AKA, Early Action, Single Choice)
     This is another non-binding program used most notably by Stanford University and Yale, where you apply by November 1 and hear back from the schools by the middle of December. If admitted, you don’t have to reply until May 1 of the following year.

     You may not apply Early Action or Early Decision to any other colleges

   • Early Decision
     In this binding contract application program, you apply by the 1st to 15th of November and receive your admissions decision by the middle of December. if admitted, you are legally bound to attend that school if youaccept their admission offer. Like REA programs, you may not apply Early Action or Early Decision to any other colleges.

   Rolling Admission

   • Some colleges offer freshman applicants an application program in which applications are accepted, evaluated and decided upon as they are received (from as early as September until a final deadline sometimes as late as the following summer). Whenever you are accepted, you still have until May 1 to decide whether or not you want to attend the school. You can also apply early to any other colleges you like.
2. Early Action, Restricted Early Action, Early Decision applicants may be accepted, denied or deferred.
3. Complete early applications as you would complete applications for regular admission. For help in doing this see
   Guide 11 Completing Undergraduate Applications)
4. Applying early does not mean that a student should stop completing regular admission applications. Early acceptance letters don’t arrive until the middle of December, so students need to have other applications ready to submit should they not be accepted in an early program.
5. If you should be deferred in an early program and want to get admitted during the regular admissions phase, you must be very proactive in providing the college with updated or new information and enthusiastic support from recommenders.

	Freshman & Sophomore Years 9th and 10th grades are wonderful years to research and visit colleges to understand what you like and don’t like about them, which might lead to your wanting to apply early to a school.
	Fall Semester Start researching colleges online and in guidebooks Spring Semester If you think you want to apply early, Complete all of your testing–SAT and/or ACT and Subject Tests–by June of your junior year Before the end of school, ask two teachers if they will complete your Teacher Evaluation forms for fall college applications Get really good grades. Remember, only grades through your junior year will be seen by colleges to which you apply early
	Senior Year Early Action and Decision deadlines are usually the first or fifteenth of November. All application materials must be mailed by that due date.
	Parents There are many things to consider if your child is thinking of an Early application program, one of the most important of which is financial aid. You can be very helpful in the decision-making process by helping your son or daughter think through the pros and cons of applying early and pulling together family financial information.

If you want more information about any of the above or:

• Why colleges offer early admission
• Insider information about early programs
• What it means to be a “hooked” student
• Whether applying early increases your chances for acceptance
• The advantages and disadvantages of applying early
• How to decide whether to apply early
• An explanation of the outcomes of early applications: Acceptance, Denial and Deferral
• How to get off a college’s deferral list and onto its acceptance list
• Recommended websites and books

If you want to gain access to Guide 10, Early Applications, click here for an online, bare bones version.

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