Early Admissions Strategy: Early Decision vs. Early Action (and What to Do If Deferred)

Early Decision is a binding admission plan. In exchange for receiving an earlier admission decision (typically before Christmas), students applying ED agree that, if admitted, they will immediately enroll and withdraw all other college applications.

Since ED is a binding contract signed by the student, parent, and counselor, students who have thoroughly researched their options and are 100% certain that one specific institution is their first choice are the best candidates. Some colleges also offer a second round (ED II) with January deadlines, notifying students a month to six weeks before regular decision.

Sometimes, but Early Decision is not a miracle cure for students whose grades and test scores are far below an institution's historical profile. If you would not be a competitive candidate in the regular round, you will rarely be admitted under ED.

However, when your GPA and test scores put you comfortably within the typical ranges for admitted students, applying ED often provides a noticeable boost. Colleges prioritize filling early seats to protect yield, though you must keep in mind that the early applicant pool is exceptionally well qualified.

If admitted under Early Decision, you will generally receive the same need-based financial aid package that you would have received in the regular round.

However, the primary disadvantage is that you surrender the leverage to compare competing financial aid offers or merit scholarships from other colleges. Families should always run Net Price Calculators on college websites to obtain detailed financial estimates before committing to an ED application.

You will receive one of three decisions: admit, deny, or defer. If admitted, you must immediately withdraw all applications to other colleges and submit your enrollment deposit.

If denied, you cannot reapply to that college during the regular decision round and must focus entirely on your remaining college list. If deferred, your application moves into the regular decision pool for a second review.

Early Action allows students to apply and receive an admissions decision earlier in senior year—typically in December or January—without any binding commitment.

If admitted under Early Action, you retain total freedom to apply to other colleges, compare financial aid packages throughout the spring, and hold off on your final enrollment decision until National Decision Day on May 1st.

It depends on the institution. At some colleges, acceptance rates between Early Action and Regular Decision are virtually identical, while at others, EA yields a slightly higher acceptance rate for solid candidates who submit strong files early.

However, students who need senior fall semester to raise borderline grades or retake standardized tests will often present a stronger application by waiting for the regular decision deadline.

Yes, with important restrictions. You may only apply Early Decision to one college at a time. While applying to your single ED school, you are generally permitted to submit non-binding Early Action applications to other public and private colleges.

However, beware of Single-Choice or Restrictive Early Action (REA) policies at institutions like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford, which prohibit applicants from applying early to any other private institution. Always review individual college rules before submitting multiple early applications.

Being deferred is not a rejection—it means the admissions office recognizes your qualifications but wants to evaluate your application within the context of the broader regular decision applicant pool.

A deferral gives you a second chance to strengthen your candidacy. Do not panic; instead, channel your energy into proactive steps to demonstrate ongoing academic momentum and engagement.

Immediately ask your high school counselor to submit your mid-year grade report showing strong academic performance in your senior year courses. If allowed by the college, draft a concise, professional Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) detailing any new academic achievements, leadership honors, or extracurricular updates.

Reiterate that the institution remains your top choice and explain specifically how you plan to contribute to campus life. Confirm that your other regular decision applications are fully finalized and ready for submission.

Absolutely. No student should ever apply Early Decision or Early Action without having a robust, balanced list of reach, match, and likely colleges they would be genuinely excited to attend.

Because the window between mid-December early notifications and early-January regular deadlines is brief and falls over the holidays, your regular decision applications should be nearly complete before early decisions arrive.