A Guide to Early Decision, Early Action, & Rolling Admissions

As you begin the college application process, you'll encounter several different application options, each with its own deadlines, rules, and strategic considerations. Understanding these differences is crucial for making informed decisions about where and when to apply.

Rolling Admissions

Some colleges review applications as they arrive and send decisions on an ongoing basis, often within a few weeks of receiving your complete application. Rolling admissions typically opens in early fall and continues until the class is full or a final deadline passes (often in spring).

When to use it: Apply early in the cycle when you're ready. Spaces fill up over time, so applying in September or October is significantly better than waiting until February or March. Rolling admissions is non-binding, so you can apply to multiple schools and don't have to commit until May 1st.

Early Action (EA)

Early Action has earlier deadlines, typically October 15th or November 1st, with decisions usually released in December (though some schools notify applicants in January). EA is non-binding, meaning if you're admitted, you don't have to attend. You can still apply to other colleges under any plan and wait until May 1st to make your final decision.

When to use it: EA is ideal when you've identified schools you're genuinely excited about and have your application materials ready by mid-fall. There's essentially no downside. If admitted, you'll know early that you have a college option, which can reduce stress significantly. If deferred or denied, you can still apply to other schools through Regular Decision. EA also demonstrates strong interest in the institution. In most cases, if you have the opportunity to apply EA to a school you're interested in, you should take advantage of it.

Early Decision (ED)

Early Decision is most often only available from private schools, although there are a few public universities that also offer an ED option - most notably U. of Michigan and UVA.  Typically ED applications have October 15th or November 1st deadlines with decisions usually released in mid-December. Here's the critical difference: ED is legally binding. If admitted, you must attend (barring extraordinary financial circumstances) and must withdraw all other applications.

When to use it: Only apply ED if you have one clear first-choice school and you're certain you want to attend if admitted. ED typically offers a significant admissions advantage - acceptance rates are often much higher than Regular Decision. However, you cannot compare financial aid packages from multiple schools, so ED works best if finances aren't a primary concern or if you've run the school's net price calculator and are confident the aid will be sufficient. Most schools allow only one ED application, though some permit ED to one school and EA to others (check individual policies).

Early Decision II (ED II)

Some colleges offer a second round of Early Decision with deadlines typically in early to mid-January and decisions usually released in February. It functions exactly like ED. It’s binding, but gives you more time to decide on your first-choice school.

When to use it: ED II is perfect if you're deferred or denied from your ED school and have identified a new first choice. It's also useful if you needed more time to improve your application or weren't ready by the November deadline. You still get the admissions boost of demonstrating strong commitment, just on a slightly later timeline.

Restrictive Early Action (REA) / Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA)

Also called Single-Choice Early Action, REA is offered by highly selective schools like Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Like regular EA, it's non-binding - you don't have to attend if admitted. However, it restricts where else you can apply early.

The specific restrictions vary by school, but generally you cannot apply EA or ED to other private colleges, though you can typically apply to:

• Public universities' EA or rolling programs
• Schools with non-binding rolling admissions
• International universities
• ED to other schools after receiving your REA decision

When to use it: REA is appropriate when you have a clear top-choice school that offers this option and you're comfortable forgoing early applications to other private institutions. Like ED, it typically demonstrates strong interest and often offers an admissions advantage. Unlike ED, you can still compare financial aid offers and aren't obligated to attend. This makes it particularly attractive for students who need to consider financial aid but still want to show commitment to a top-choice school.

Regular Decision (RD)

Regular Decision applications typically have deadlines in early to mid-January (often January 1st or 15th) with decisions usually released in late March or early April. You'll have until May 1st - the universal decision day - to choose which school to attend. Regular Decision is non-binding with no restrictions on where else you can apply.

When to use it: Regular Decision is the right choice in several specific situations:

• You need more time to strengthen your application. If your grades, test scores, essays, or activities will be significantly stronger with first-semester senior year performance included, waiting for RD allows you to submit your best possible application.
• You've already applied Early Decision to another school. Since ED is binding and most schools limit you to one ED application, you'll use Regular Decision for other schools you're interested in.
• The college only offers Regular Decision. Some colleges don't have early application options, making RD your only choice.

That said, in most cases, if you have the opportunity to apply Early Action to schools you're interested in and your application is ready, you should do so. The benefits of knowing early, demonstrating interest, and often having a statistical advantage make EA an attractive option with virtually no downside.

Strategic Considerations

1. Consider your readiness: Early applications require you to have strong grades, test scores (if submitting), essays, and recommendations ready by mid-fall. If your application will be significantly stronger with first-semester senior year grades or you're retaking standardized tests in the fall, waiting for Regular Decision might be wise.
2. Consider your certainty: The more restrictive the application plan, the more certain you need to be. ED and REA/SCEA require confidence in your choice and readiness to forgo other early opportunities.
3. Consider the data: Research admission statistics. Many selective schools admit 40-50% of their class through early programs, and early acceptance rates can be double the regular decision rates. However, this advantage varies significantly by institution.
4. Consider your financial needs: If comparing financial aid packages is essential, avoid ED. EA, REA/SCEA, and Regular Decision allow you to compare offers.

The Bottom Line

There's no single "right" approach for everyone. Some students apply to one school ED, others submit multiple EA applications, and many use Regular Decision for some or all of their schools. The best strategy aligns with your college list, application readiness, financial situation, and level of certainty about your preferences. When in doubt, remember: it's better to submit a strong Regular Decision application than a rushed early one. Take the time you need to put your best foot forward.