early admissions

• Most selective undergraduate programs have adopted an early admissions policy for students who want to get a jump-start on the application process. Early admission can be a great way to get some answers months in advance, but if you are considering applying early, it’s important to understand the rules and expectations that accompany the process. The following definitions will help you in evaluating whether applying early is right for you.

Most schools will only offer one of the following options for early applicants:

• Early Decision (ED) allows you to apply early, be considered among a more select pool of students and receive a decision months before the regular applicants. While ED almost always improves your chance of getting in, the catch is that it’s binding. While you are allowed to apply to other schools early action (see below), if a school accepts your early decision application, you are required to attend that school and must withdraw any other applications. Naturally, we would never recommend applying early decision unless you and your families have no doubts that a school is the perfect fit.

• Early Action (EA) is similar in structure to ED, but is not binding. While you still get the benefit of an early answer, early action does not significantly improve your chance of acceptance.

• Restrictive Early Action (REA), like Early Action, is non-binding. Unlike EA, programs with REA require students to refrain from submitting any other early applications, even to other non-binding programs. REA was instituted by a number of select colleges and universities as a way to encourage students to be more selective with early applications without requiring them to sign a binding contract in November of senior year.

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