You might think applying to college is a fairly straightforward endeavor. There’s an application process and deadline, you follow it, and you’re done.
However, college application season has become increasingly complex. Today, most colleges offer multiple application types and times, each with its rules, deadlines, and potential outcomes. College-bound students will likely notice three different application processes when researching universities:
- Early Action (EA)
- Restricted Early Action
- Early Decision (ED)
- Regular Decision (RD)
- Rolling Admissions
In this guide, we’ll explore these options and answer a key question: Does applying early action improve your chances of college acceptance?
Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Regular Decision: What’s the Difference?
Choosing between early action, early decision, and regular decision depends on various factors. Each option has its pros and cons, which you should consider carefully. Understanding the acceptance rates associated with each can also guide your decision.
Early Action (EA)
- Deadline: Usually in November
- Decision Notification: December or January
- Binding: No – you can apply to multiple schools and are not obligated to attend if accepted
- Pros:
- Early notification reduces stress
- Ability to compare financial aid packages
- Cons:
- Not ideal for students needing to improve grades or test scores
Restricted Early Action
- Deadline: Typically in November
- Decision Notification: Usually by mid-December
- Binding: Generally non-binding, but you’re only allowed to apply to one school early
- Pros:
- Early indication of acceptance
- Opportunity to begin college planning sooner
- Cons:
- Limited in the number of colleges students can apply to under this plan
- May not be ideal for students needing more time to improve grades or test scores
Early Decision (ED)
- Deadline: Usually in November
- Decision Notification: December or January
- Binding: Yes – you must attend if accepted
- Exception: Financial aid insufficiency can void the binding agreement
- Pros:
- Higher acceptance rates due to demonstrated commitment
- Early notification reduces stress
- Cons:
- Limited to one school
- Cannot compare multiple offers
Regular Decision (RD)
- Deadline: Varies by school
- Decision Notification: Mid-March to mid-April
- Binding: No – you can apply to multiple schools and are not obligated to attend any specific one
- Pros:
- More time to improve grades and test scores
- Flexibility to apply to many schools
- Cons:
- Longer wait for decisions
Rolling Admissions
- Deadline: No fixed deadline – applications are accepted and reviewed continuously throughout the admissions cycle until all spots are filled
- Decision Notification: Typically sent out shortly after completing and reviewing the application – This could range from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the institution’s review process and volume of applications
- Binding: No – you can receive multiple offers and decide which one to accept without penalty
- Pros:
- Flexible for applicants to apply within a broader timeframe
- Faster Decisions
- Higher Chance of Acceptance
- Ongoing opportunities for applicants who may have missed traditional application deadlines or are still deciding on their college choices
- Cons:
- Competitive – As the cycle progresses, spots may become more competitive, especially if the program or school has limited spaces
- Limited Scholarships and Financial Aid for those who apply later in the cycle
- With no fixed deadline, applicants may not have a clear timeline for receiving a decision
Explore Top Early Decision/Action Colleges: Deadlines and Details
To give you a sense of the colleges available to you with this application timeline, below, you’ll find 40 of the most popular EA/ED colleges. For the purposes of this chart, “popular” translates to “colleges that draw a lot of students because of their great programs and their high admission rate for early applicants.” This list also contains the deadlines for submitting said early applications if you wish to be considered within this pool.
Early Action
Early Decision
College Acceptance Rates: What You Need to Know
A college’s acceptance rate is the rate at which they give acceptance letters to applicants in any given application season. When researching colleges and universities, you’ll want to understand the percentage of applicants who get in – the college’s acceptance rate. This will help you understand your odds and what you might need to do to increase your chances.
Universities with famously (or infamously) low acceptance rates include Harvard University (3.6%), Yale University (3.7%) and Stanford University (3.9%). State colleges and smaller liberal arts colleges tend to have much higher acceptance rates. The University of Richmond, for example, is a highly-ranked small private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 24%. Well-known state school Texas A&M accepts students at an even higher 63% rate, with many schools claiming acceptance rates up into even the high 80% range.
Strategic college-bound students tend to apply to colleges across the acceptance rate spectrum. Your dream school might have an acceptance rate below 20%, and you should go for it! But it’s smart to have a few backups in hand – applications with schools that interest you and offer higher acceptance rates – just in case.
Does Early Action Increase Your Chances of Acceptance?
So, does early action increase your chances of college acceptance? In general cases, not really. The biggest benefit of applying early action is that you can potentially wrap up the college application process earlier than your peers, saving you time, energy, and stress during the holiday season and spring semester of your senior year in high school. For many students, that is reason enough to get moving on applying to college earlier than the rest.
On the other hand, the college acceptance rate for early decision applicants is slightly higher than for early action and regular decision applicants. This is likely because colleges recognize that students who apply early are dedicated to their institution and have accepted a binding decision. Schools like knowing they will get at least a few guaranteed “yes” responses, as a high percentage of applicants who accept offers boosts a college’s rankings.
Additionally, students who apply for early decisions tend to have higher grades and test scores than regular decision applicants. This could also explain why the acceptance rates are higher in the early decision process!
Which Application Method Should I Choose?
Whether you apply early action, early decision, regular decision—or all three—will depend on various factors unique to your situation.
Because of the binding nature of the early decision application, many college-bound students avoid going down this route. They’d rather keep their options open, seeing how many and which schools offer them admission and making their choice. Other students, however, have a top dream school in mind and would gladly accept an early decision offer without knowing what other colleges might have accepted them. This is a highly personal decision that only you can know is right for you.
Early action applications are not binding, and if you have the right grades and test scores to get into the schools you like, this is a great option for wrapping up the process before everyone else. And since any offers you might receive during the early action process are not binding, you can still potentially choose from a pool of acceptance letters.
How to Increase Your Chances of College Acceptance
Now that you know that applying early action doesn’t necessarily increase your chances of college acceptance, you can focus on what factors could boost your application. Better grades, a higher ACT/SAT score, and stronger personal essays are real ways students can improve their chances of getting into their top schools.
Other ways to increase the chances of college acceptance include:
- Improve Your Grades: Strong academic performance is key
- Boost Test Scores: Higher ACT/SAT scores can make a significant difference
- Write Compelling Essays: Stand out with unique and well-crafted personal statements
- Secure Strong Recommendations: Letters from teachers and mentors who know you well can be powerful
- Show Demonstrated Interest: Visit campuses, attend information sessions, and engage with admissions counselors
- Apply Broadly: Cast a wide net to increase your chances for admission
- Manage Your Online Reputation: How do your social media and LinkedIn profiles look to college admissions counselors?
More Options = Better Chances
To optimize your college application success:
- Apply early action if your grades and test scores are strong
- Consider early decision if you have a clear top choice and are comfortable with the binding agreement
- Use regular decision to keep all your options open and allow more time for academic improvement
A diverse application strategy—employing early action, early decision, and regular decision where appropriate—can set you up for success during college application season. Aim high, apply broadly, and strengthen your overall application to maximize your chances of getting into your desired schools.
Does one college stand out in the crowd to you? Try your hand at making early decision, as long as you are comfortable with that method’s binding nature. If you don’t get accepted immediately, the school will often send your application to the regular decision pool, giving you a second chance at your top choice.
Seeking additional support in navigating the college admissions journey? Empowerly is your trusted ally! Our personalized approach caters to your needs at every step, offering tailored counseling, internship advice, and more. Backed by a team of seasoned experts, Empowerly has steered countless students toward success. Schedule a consultation today and unlock the pathway to your student’s dream university, empowering them to unleash their full potential!
Julia de Raadt
Gelyna Price
Madeleine Karydes