Early Decision vs. Early Action

You may be receiving a lot of communication from colleges and universities regarding Early Action and Early Decision. Some of you may be understandably cautious, especially during a time when so much in life feels a bit shaky and uncertain. However, there are some key differences between Early Decision and Early Action which may both ease your mind and help you choose if one is right for you.

Early Decision:

• It’s binding. In order to get an earlier decision you’re essentially committing to the school by saying “if I’m admitted into your institution I will decline other offers and attend your school.”
• You should only apply Early Decision to a college or university if you’re certain that it is the school you want to attend.
• And note I said “a” college or university. While you can still apply to other institutions, you should only apply Early Decision to one institution.
• The Early Decision deadline for many institutions is in November, with some institutions offering an “Early Decision II” at the beginning of the year, usually in January.
• You’re committing to the decision earlier (hence the name). The National Decision Day is May 1st, however, if you apply Early Decision, you’re committing much earlier.

Early Action:

• It’s non-binding.
• You do not have to withdraw your applications from other schools.
• Your commitment deadline is May 1st. This means if you apply and deposit Early Action your deposit is typically refundable until May 1st, but you should check with the institution you’re applying to in order to confirm their policy.
• You receive an earlier admissions decision while still having the flexibility to compare financial aid packages and learn about other schools.
• Just note: if you’re looking for a non-binding option, some schools offer Restrictive Early Action, which is binding.

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers an excellent resource for students wanting clear definitions for application processes.

You may be wondering why institutions offer Early Action if it is non-binding. At King’s, students receive their application decisions on a rolling basis and our application deadline is typically August 1st. Students who apply Early Action are signaling to us that we are in their top two or three choices for schools. It also helps us plan better by knowing earlier who is really serious about our college and, in turn, we offer great benefits to Early Action students:

• Early access to class registration
• Exclusive events and content
• Early access to housing
• King’s swag
• And more!

So when you hear “Early Action” from one of your top college choices, don’t think “Early Decision.” I encourage you to explore the details of the offer and see what benefits (and deadlines) are included. You may be surprised to find some really neat perks and opportunities.

// Photo by Ales Krivec //