Should You Apply via Regular Decision or Early Action?
By David N.
Colleges let you apply “early”? And why would you want to do that? Well, applying early via the Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) options have their pros and cons compared to applying Regular Decision (RD).
Why Do Early Decision?
The main advantage of applying ED is that your chances of getting in are much higher. ED signals to the school that it is your first choice and that you are willing to fully commit. ED is legally binding in the sense that you have agreed to pay for a year of tuition even if you change your mind after they say “yes.”
Another advantage is that you find out the result in mid-December, even before you have finished finals for your first semester of senior year. However, the disadvantages include not being able to compare financial aid packages between different schools that give you offers, and the price tag of a private school that won’t let you change your mind.
Note that ED does not apply to public universities, such as the University of California system.
Why Do Early Action?
For those who want to apply and find out the results early but who don’t want to be bound by the legal agreement to pay for one year of tuition if the school says “yes,” EA is the better choice. EA still signals to the school that you are interested in it, but you can change your mind even if they say yes. Getting a positive EA result in mid-December will put your mind at ease that there is a college that you are interested in that has accepted you.
If you apply EA and ED, make sure that the ED school allows you to apply EA at another school. Check their website, or you will disqualify yourself for ED.
Why Do Regular Decision?
RD deadlines give you plenty of time to strengthen your profile before clicking submit. It also gives you more time to do college applications while also doing the first semester of your senior year. This semester is the busiest of all high school semesters.
Though RD results come out between March to May in the second semester of senior year, it allows you to compare the financial aid packages across the multiple schools that said “yes.”
So, there are pros and cons to each decision. The higher the risk, the higher the reward. However, people have gotten into your favorite school via all three of these options. Do your best and trust it to fate.
