Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision -- What does it all mean?

Although the college application process can seem complicated at first, don't worry at all. Once you get a general idea of what your goals are, and master a couple of key terms, it all becomes clearer. This post will help you with three of the most common terms that you'll encounter during your application process.
Regular Decision
Regular decision applications are the simplest to understand. In short, the regular decision option is the default route which most students will pick. Generally speaking, Regular decision deadlines are the latest that any particular college's application period will remain open for. If you gain admission to multiple regular decision schools, there is no obligation to actually attend any particular one. Simply reply to one of the schools by the assigned deadline. Generally, regular decision deadlines run from November to February of your Senior Year and the date to commit to a school is usually May to June.
Early Action
This is one of two early application option available to students. According to CollegeBoard, "approximately 450 colleges have early decision or early action plans".
Early Action applications are non-binding. Applying Early Action simply means that you will (usually) send out your application earlier and receive an offer earlier in the application cycle. You still have until May or June to reply to the offer, but you usually receive a confirmation between December and February (depending on the school). You can apply to multiple schools with the Early Action option.
Early Decision
This is the second early application option you might be considering. Like Early Action applications, Early Decision applicants need to prepare and submit their applications earlier than Regular Decision candidates. However, there is one crucial difference between Early Decision and Early Action.
Early Decision offers are binding. That means that if you receive an offer from a school you've applied for through Early Decision, you must attend it. You can only apply to one school using Early Decision.
Should I apply Early?
The decision to apply to any particular school using early action or early decision will depend on your own circumstances and preferences. In general, given how much earlier the deadlines are and the possibility of the decision being binding (as in the case of Early Decision schools), you should always think carefully about opting for these application methods. Before applying early, you should be certain that you have done adequate research to ensure that the school is a good fit for you and that you would be happy to attend. It's also worth noting that your academic profile should be within the range of what could reasonably be admitted into the school you're applying to. If you need help with either of these steps, your counselor should be able to assist you. One independent resource is CollegeData, which could also be helpful.
Final Notes You shouldn't assume that opting either for the Early Action or Early Decision route will drastically change your chances of successful entry. These options are mainly intended to allow you to hear back earlier for planning purposes, or to clearly demonstrate interest in the case of an Early Decision application. Make sure you do your own research before deciding whether or not one of these options is for you.
Further Reading: CollegeBoard provides an overview to early applications at this website.
Comments