When to Apply: Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision?

One question that makes all high school students anxious is: “What happens after I graduate from high school?” But your senior year need not be a time spent anguishing over which college to apply to and whether or not they’re going to accept you.

However, even college admissions offices admit that navigating the “admissions lingo” of the application process can be daunting. 

You have three options when applying for admission to your chosen university: Early Action (EA), Early Decision (ED), or Regular Decision (RD). There are pros and cons to each timeline and understanding which is best for you will depend on careful consideration of your circumstances.

The Regular Decision (RD) deadline for applications is usually from mid-December to mid-January (in the northern hemisphere), with notification of the colleges’ decisions by mid-March to mid-April.

EA and ED applications can relieve some of the pressure of the college admissions process by providing an earlier decision timeline – but also add pressure because they require earlier submission of applications.

Let’s look at some of these pros and cons, focusing on the Early Decision process.

In Favour of ED

Early Decision (ED) can be the best strategy for students who have a clear first-choice college and are confident in their academic and financial standing. 

1. Higher Acceptance Rates: Many colleges have higher acceptance rates for ED applicants compared to regular decision applicants. This is because ED applicants are seen as more committed to the school. Yale, for example, has a regular acceptance rate of just over 3%, but an early acceptance rate of over 10%. In many cases, however, the higher acceptance rate is because ED applicants are more confident of the strength of their applications and less reliant on financial aid support.
2. Demonstrated Interest: Following the above, applying ED shows the college that you are genuinely interested and committed to attending that college if accepted, which can positively influence your application. If this is the college you’ve always dreamed of attending, and you’re not too concerned about getting financial aid, there’s little downside to applying ED. 
3. Earlier Notification: ED applicants typically receive admissions decisions by December, providing peace of mind and allowing for earlier planning if accepted.
4. Less Stress During Senior Year: Getting an early acceptance can reduce stress during the rest of your senior year, as you no longer have to worry about the looming application timelines and deadlines to submit your applications.
5. Potential Financial Aid Benefits: Some schools might offer favorable financial aid packages to ED applicants to attract top students.

The Downside of ED

1. Binding Commitment: If accepted, you must attend the school and withdraw all other college applications. This can be a significant commitment, especially if you are not fully certain about your choice.
2. Limited Financial Aid Comparisons: Since ED decisions come early and are binding, you won’t be able to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools. This could impact your financial planning. Also, a non-refundable deposit is required, usually by May.
3. Less Time to Improve Application: ED application deadlines typically fall around 1st November, with acceptance letters going out by mid-December. Applying early means you have less time to enhance your application with improved grades, extracurricular achievements, or additional test scores from the first semester of your senior year. 
4. Increased Pressure: The pressure to decide on a first-choice school early in your senior year can be intense and may lead to rushed or less informed decisions.
5. Reduced Flexibility: ED reduces your flexibility in exploring other college options, which might be necessary if your interests or circumstances change.

Schools tend to favor ED applicants for two reasons: 

(1) the demonstrated commitment of these applicants mentioned above; and 

(2) it is in the school’s best interest to firm up as many good applicants as early as possible, to avoid last-minute selection of possible poorer quality candidates.

However, if you have any reservations about which college you want to apply to, or feel the need to strengthen your application with better grades and higher test scores, rather apply EA or wait for the regular decision timeline.

An ED college acceptance is not legally binding, however, and you can renege on your application if, for example, you can’t secure financial aid to cover your fees. But it doesn’t look good to do so, and the school may bar you from applying again until the following year.

Another Option: Early Action (EA)

Some schools have what is called an Early Action option, similar in timescale to ED, which allows you to apply early to the school and find out if you have been accepted – but is non-binding, so you’re free to apply to other schools. Typically it’s an opportunity to receive an admission decision sooner, without any commitment to attend the school if you’re accepted.

Deadlines for EA applications are similar to ED applications: typically November/early December, with notifications posted in January or February So, EA provides you with more flexibility, both in terms of the number of colleges you can apply to, and more time to negotiate financial aid packages.

Final Thought

Enrollment for EU Business School programs takes place throughout the year taking advantage of EU programs’ year-round start dates. Foundation and bachelor’s students can begin their studies in September/October, January, May, and July, while the master’s and MBA programs begin in October, January, and March. This flexibility allows students to start studying at their earliest convenience.