Early Decision: Early decision plans are binding — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college.

Early Action: Early action plans are nonbinding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.

Single-Choice Early Action: Some colleges offer a nonbinding option called single-choice early action, under which applicants may not apply ED or EA to any other college.

Things to think about when you're considering applying for Early Decision or Early Action. 

Regular Decision: Regular decision is the normal process by which students apply by published deadlines, with promise of receiving an admissions decision no later that April 1 of their senior year.

Rolling Admission: Rolling admission means colleges review applications as they're sent in; there is no hard deadline by which you need to submit your application. In contrast, schools with a regular decision policy require you to submit your application by a certain deadline — usually in late December or January.