What is Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action?

When applying to college, students have several options regarding when and how they submit their applications. Among these options, Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), and Restrictive Early Action (REA) programs offer unique advantages and drawbacks.

But which should you choose? Here’s an in-depth look at the pros and cons of each type so you can make informed decisions about your application strategy and potentially enhance your chances of acceptance.

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What Are Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action?

All 3 types allow you to apply earlier and possibly get accepted earlier. For many schools offering these options, you will apply by November 1st and will hear back mid-December.

Early Decision (ED or ED1): Early Decision is a binding application process. When you apply ED to a college, you commit to attending if accepted and must withdraw all your other college applications. You can only apply ED to one school, but may apply to other colleges through regular decision or non-binding early action programs.

Early Decision 2 (ED2): Early Decision 2 is the same concept as ED/ED1. The major difference is in the application and decision timelines. While ED1 typically has a deadline in November with decisions being released in December, ED2 usually has a later deadline around January with decisions released in February.

Early Action (EA): Early Action is a non-binding application process. You can apply EA to multiple colleges and are not obligated to attend if accepted. This gives you the flexibility to weigh your options and make a decision by the regular decision deadline.

Restrictive Early Action (REA): Restrictive Early Action is a hybrid of ED and EA. It is non-binding like EA, but you are restricted from applying to other ED, EA, and REA schools.

Benefits of Early Decision (ED)

1. Higher Acceptance Rates: Colleges often accept a higher percentage of ED applicants compared to regular decision applicants due to the difference in size of the pool of applicants. This can be particularly advantageous if you have a strong preference for a specific school and meet or exceed their admission criteria.

   Some colleges such as Brown University, Columbia University, and Johns Hopkins University have filled more than 50% of their entering class through ED.

2. Demonstrated Interest: Applying ED demonstrates to the college that you are highly committed and have a strong desire to attend. This can positively influence the admissions committee’s decision, as certain institutions value students who are enthusiastic about their school though we’ll stress that demonstrated interest will not make up for the most important factors of an application such as academic performance, coursework rigor, and how compelling the rest of your application is like your essays.

3. Reduced Stress: Receiving an early decision can significantly reduce the stress of the college application process. If accepted, you can focus on finishing high school without the pressure of waiting for multiple admissions decisions. It’s definitely a nice feeling being able to spend Christmas and New Year’s knowing where you’ll be going to college next year, while some of your peers might still be scrambling to submit their apps.

Benefits of Early Action (EA)

1. Flexibility and Freedom: Unlike ED, EA is non-binding. You can apply to multiple schools early and still have the freedom to compare offers, financial aid packages, and visit campuses before making a final decision. If you apply to schools EA, you can even still apply to a different school ED, but only one and if you get in, you will withdraw all your EA applications.

2. Early Notification: EA applicants receive admissions decisions earlier, typically by mid-December. This early notification allows you to plan the rest of your senior year and make more informed decisions about your future.

3. Extended Decision Time: Even though you get your decision early, you still have until the regular decision deadline (usually in May) to make your final choice. This gives you ample time to weigh your options and make the best decision for you.

4. Less Pressure: Applying early can relieve some of the pressure during the regular application season. Knowing you have already submitted some applications allows you to focus on completing other applications and enjoying your senior year.

Benefits of Restrictive Early Action (REA)

1. Flexibility-ish: Unlike ED, EA is non-binding. However, you will often be restricted from applying to other schools ED, EA, or REA. This applies to private schools. You’ll still be able to apply to public universities.

2. Early Notification: Like ED and EA, REA applicants receive admissions decisions earlier around mid-December.

3. Demonstrated Interest: Also like ED, applying REA demonstrates interest which can be an important factor for certain schools.

Common Benefits of ED, EA, and REA

1. Priority Consideration: Applying early often means you receive priority consideration for scholarships, honors programs, and housing. This can be a significant advantage in securing additional benefits that come with college acceptance.

2. Better Planning: Early acceptances allow you to plan more effectively for the transition to college. You can focus on academic preparation, financial planning, and other logistical aspects of starting college. And to enjoy the last year of high school!

3. Improved Application Quality: Applying early encourages you to start the application process sooner, leading to more time for thoughtful essay writing, gathering recommendations, and perfecting your application. At CollegeBound, we advise students to be aware of these options when building their college lists and to leverage them in their college application strategy.

Drawbacks of Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action

1. Less Time for Application Preparation: Early deadlines mean you have less time to prepare your application materials. If you’re not ready, your application might not reflect your best effort, which could impact your chances of acceptance.

2. Binding Commitment (ED): For Early Decision, the binding commitment can be a significant drawback. If accepted, you must attend that school, which eliminates the opportunity to compare financial aid offers and other benefits from different colleges.

3. Financial Aid Uncertainty: With Early Decision, you may not have the chance to compare financial aid packages from multiple schools. This can be a disadvantage if you need to consider financial aid as a crucial factor in your college decision. But, if financial constraints truly do not make attendance possible, then there’s a possibility of being released from the ED agreement. It warrants a conversation with the college to discuss next steps and options.

4. Limited Options (ED): Applying Early Decision limits you to one ED application. If you don’t get accepted, you’ll need to quickly pivot to regular decision applications for other schools, which can be stressful and time-consuming.

5. Increased Pressure: The pressure to decide on a first-choice school early in your senior year can be intense. You might feel rushed into making a decision before you’ve had enough time to explore all your options thoroughly.

6. Early Rejections or Deferrals: Receiving an early rejection or deferral can be discouraging and affect your motivation for regular decision applications. It’s important to stay resilient and focused on your other college options.

7. Sub-optimal Application Quality: Whoa, what gives? Didn’t you just say that applying early means the quality of my applications will improve? Yes, but on the other hand, it may not be the case if you need to show academic improvement with your first semester senior year grades, or if you’re hoping to improve your standardized test scores. Consider your specific situation and if you need more time to enhance your academic aspects.

Which is right for You?

Choosing between ED, EA, and REA ultimately depends on your personal preferences, financial considerations, and readiness. Here are some factors to consider:

• Certainty of Choice: If you have a clear first-choice college and are confident in your decision, ED might be a good option.

• Financial Aid Needs: If you need to compare financial aid packages, EA or REA are safer choices as they allow you to evaluate multiple offers.

• Application Readiness: Ensure you have all application materials ready by the early deadline, typically in November. If you’ve had stellar grades and test scores up to this point, and have enough time to write compelling essays, then applying early may be the right option for you.

General strategies

Because we don’t know your personal situation, we can only provide you with these general tips:

• Utilize ED2 if you’re rejected by ED1: If you have a clear second-choice college, apply to it with ED2.

• Utilize ED2 if your application isn’t ready for ED1 deadlines: If you need more time to improve your application and if there is a school you love enough to commit to, then see if they have an ED2 option. That way, you have 2 more months to strengthen your essays, prepare for standardized tests, or etc while taking advantage of the benefits of ED.

Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action applications offer significant benefits, from higher acceptance rates and reduced stress to greater flexibility and better planning. However, it’s essential to weigh these benefits against the potential drawbacks, such as less time for preparation and the binding nature of ED. 

By understanding these advantages and disadvantages, you can make an informed choice about which application strategy best suits your needs and goals. Whether you choose ED, EA, or another route, starting your application process early can set you on the path to success in your college journey.

If any of this sounds overwhelming, feel free to reach out to us. We’re happy to help answer any questions you might have!

List of ED, EA, REA schools (2024-25)

Early Decision:

Amherst College

Babson College

Boston College

Boston University

Brown University

Carleton College

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Claremont McKenna College

Columbia University

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Duke University

Emory University

Fordham University

Harvey Mudd College

Johns Hopkins University

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Pomona College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rice University

Swarthmore College

Tufts University

Tulane University

Union College

University of Chicago

University of Pennsylvania

University of Virginia

Vanderbilt University

Wake Forest University

Washington University in St. Louis

Wesleyan University

Williams College

Early Action:

Babson College

Case Western Reserve University

Fordham University

Georgetown University (note: cannot apply to ED schools)

Georgia Institute of Technology (note: Georgia Tech has different EA deadlines depending if you’re an in-state or out-of-state student)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Northeastern University

Pennsylvania State University

Purdue University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rutgers—New Brunswick

Tulane University

University of Chicago

University of Colorado—Boulder

University of Georgia

University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign

University of Maryland—College Park

University of Massachusetts—Amherst

University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill

University of Southern California

University of Texas–Austin

University of Virginia

University of Wisconsin—Madison

Restrictive Early Action:

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Harvard University

Princeton University

Stanford University

University of Notre Dame

Yale University