College Articles Early Action and Early Decision

One of the biggest decisions to make in the application process is whether to do Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision. You can only apply to one school Early Decision, and it forecloses financial aid negotiations if you're accepted because you can't get packages from other schools to use in negotiating, but it's undeniable that it very significantly increases your odds at highly competitive colleges: often from next to zero to in the ballpark. For example, some of the highly competitive colleges accept 5% of applicants, but if you apply Early Decision, it rises to roughly 14% and if you don't it drops to about 2%. This is not 2% of the population of 18 years olds but 2% of the excellent students who apply to these schools. 98% of nearly perfect high school students get rejected by these schools if they apply regular decision. If you're applying to the Ivies or their equivalents, the only real chance for most humans is Early Decision, but even then the chances are under 20%, and all of those applicants (just about) are highly qualified to attend.

On the other hand, Early Action is all benefit and no detriment. All you do is apply early, often by November 1. The benefits that flow from this are a slightly better chance of acceptance as you're showing the organization to apply earlier, being done with applications by Halloween and finding out the decision in December rather than March or April, the latter of which allow you to enjoy your senior year of high school much earlier. Definitly do this. You can apply to any number of schools Early Decision, and there is no commitment involved.

For a document from InGenius listing the early decision/early action policies of the most competitive 50 schools, go to https://ingeniusprep.com/blog/early-action-and-early-decision/

Cary is happy to discuss this with you individually if you're unsure.

College Kickstart stats about Early Decision Acceptances from 2024-5: https://www.collegekickstart.com/blog/item/class-of-2029-early-decision-and-early-action-results

Good Basic explanation: Early Decision vs. Early Action 25

Are you stuck if you are accepted early decision and don't like the aid package?

Early Decision Isn't Binding if you can't afford it 21

3 top reasons to apply either Early Action or Early Decision24

Merit aid and early decision 22

Merit aid and early decision 2 22

Early Decision and Early Action explained 20

Merit aid and early decision 2 22

Sticker shock on your early decision package? 21

Early Decision 20