No doubt you’ve heard about applying early to college. But maybe you’re unsure what applying early means, why it’s important, and when early deadlines occur. Let’s break it down.

What is Applying Early?

It’s pretty much like it sounds. High school seniors apply to colleges before the regular admissions cycle begins. These early application deadlines range from mid-October through early December, with November 1 as the most popular deadline.

Why Apply Early?

Applying early to college can have several advantages:

  1. Strategically spacing out your applications over early and regular deadlines will make your workload significantly more manageable and the application process, therefore, less stressful. As a first-semester senior, you’ll have more time for school work, the fall play, football season, homecoming, and free time with your friends. What’s wrong with that?
  2. Applying early also means you typically receive your decisions earlier, sometimes as early as December. Imagine the reassurance of knowing you’ve been admitted to college (even if it’s not your first choice) before the mid-point of your senior year! Just don’t let senioritis creep in.
  3. Finally, applying early allows you to assess your acceptance options and make crucial decisions sooner in the admissions cycle. For example, suppose you’re particularly thrilled with one of your acceptances. In that case, you can pay your enrollment deposit and focus on finding the best housing, applying to the honors programs and scholarships, and even finding a cool (or at least compatible) roommate. On the other hand, if you’re unhappy with your early college options, you’ll still have time to reassess and apply elsewhere.

Early Application Options

There are several types of early application deadlines. It is a good idea to explore each option’s requirements, advantages, and disadvantages. Here are some of the most popular deadlines.

Early Decision (ED, ED1, ED2)

Early Decision is a binding agreement; if you apply ED and you’re admitted, you must attend that institution. You agree to withdraw all other applications and not apply to other schools for the remainder of the application cycle. If you’re deferred or denied, you are released from the binding agreement and are free to apply to other colleges. You can only apply ED to one college at a time (see ED 2 below).

With all the amazing colleges out there, you may wonder why you should restrict yourself to one collage by applying Early Decision. The answer is simple. Applying ED can offer a strategic advantage because admission rates for ED applicants are often higher. This is because colleges typically receive significantly fewer ED applications when compared to other types of applications, so you’re competing against a smaller pool of students.

Applying Early: Is it Easier?

But please don’t let those higher admit percentages mislead you! Applying ED doesn’t always equate to “easier to get into.” Keep in mind that colleges accept students they believe will thrive at their institutions, and the ED applicant pool is often brimming with them. If your application doesn’t quite fit that profile, you may be “throwing your ED away.” Before committing to ED, honestly and openly assess your academic and extracurricular performance. And consider this: Is this really your only “ideal” college? (Hint: Most students have more than one). Remember, you only have one chance at ED in the fall, so use this early opportunity wisely (if at all).

There is also a second, later ED deadline called ED2 (cue the eyeroll). Like ED (or ED1), ED2 is a binding application requiring that you enroll if admitted. However, ED2 deadlines are almost always in January, after ED decisions are released. This second ED deadline allows denied or deferred applicants the chance to apply to a “second favorite” college. ED2 also provides an opportunity for students who discover their “dream school” after November 1. Keep in mind that admission rates for ED2 are typically lower than ED1 rates but are often favorable to Regular Decision.

Early Action (EA)

Think of Early Action as ED’s more flexible cousin. Like ED, if you elect to apply Early Action (EA), you’ll submit your application by a fall deadline and receive your decision early. But that’s where the similarities end. Unlike ED, you can apply Early Action to multiple colleges and consider multiple admission offers. You’ll have until May 1 of your senior year to consider all your college options, an important advantage if you a) need more time to decide where you want to go to college and b) want to compare financial aid offerings from multiple schools.

Admissions rates are another reason to consider applying Early Action, which tend to be higher than Regular Decision rates. This is because admissions offices appreciate when applicants demonstrate interest, even if it’s not a full-fledged commitment (ahem, ED) to attend.

Restrictive Early Action (REA)

Finally, there’s Restrictive Early Action (REA), also known as Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA), often offered at highly selective institutions (think Yale, Stanford, Harvard). Like EA, REA is non-binding, and admitted students have until May 1 to decide whether to enroll. But as the name implies, REA is restrictive; students who apply REA can apply early to only one college. They cannot apply ED or EA to any other schools (with a few exceptions). As each college’s REA policies differ, interested applicants should thoroughly review each institution’s policies.

Help With Applying Early to College

So many options! Fortunately, at Moxie College Counseling, we understand the implications, advantages, and disadvantages of application deadlines, and we work with our students to develop customized strategies that meet their needs. Contact us. We’ll be happy to help you realize your educational goals.