It’s that time! High school students are scrambling to submit their early decision and early action applications to college. Perhaps your student is doing the same, but should they? Are there advantages to applying early versus applying later?
Definitions
Early decision and early action are two application options in which students apply to college in the fall, rather than in the spring. Early decision is the older of these options. In early decision, students apply with the understanding that they if they are admitted to the school, they will withdraw applications from all other schools. Early decision is binding on students, and admitted students send in their enrollment deposits early as well.
Early action is different. Students may apply early action—often with the same November deadline—but if they are admitted, they can still apply to and enroll at other schools. Early action is non-binding. Students admitted through early action may also wait to send in their enrollment deposits until later, often for the May 1 common deadline.
Why Apply Early?
The biggest reason students chose to apply early—using either option—is to know where they’re going earlier in the school year. Early decision and early action applicants may learn of their admission decision in December, and often by January. This is long before other students may even apply during the regular cycle.
Another reason students apply early is to demonstrate their strong interest in their first choice college. This is especially the case for early decision. Colleges are impressed when a prospective student is so committed to their school that they would forfeit attending any other school to go there. That level of interest plays well with admissions officers.
A benefit of early decision to colleges is that it helps the college “build their class” early. If they can bring in 10-20% of their class by January, that’s reduces the pressure on the admissions office. That advantage to admissions is lessened when students apply early action, because they may not commit to the school until May.
Money Can Make the Difference
One downside of early decision is that students are required to submit their enrollment deposits long before they receive their financial aid award. This is tough for any student, but particularly those with high financial need. On the other hand, schools may provide more generous merit aid to students admitted through early decision. This extra amount may help, but may not be enough for some students. If knowing their financial aid award before committing to a college is important to a student, early decision may not be for them.
Deciding Which Schools to Apply to Early
Before I continue, I should add that few students need to apply to twenty colleges. And if your student is considering that, ask them why. Let’s be honest: are they likely to attend all those schools? My personal philosophy is that your student should apply to five schools they would be happy attending, with a few schools beyond that if something goes wrong. And students shouldn’t apply to any school they don’t see themselves attending just to rack up more “I got into this many schools” bragging points. Keeping the list focused also makes it easier to research the application options for each school they’re applying to. That will help in deciding which to apply to early, and which they may choose to apply to during regular decision.
Giving it Their Best Shot
Your student will be more competitive as an applicant by making sure they have the academic record, standardized test scores, recommendation letters and the best essays possible for their early decision or early action schools. Focusing on the quality of their application materials is critical. They are wasting their time if they don’t make a significant effort with their admission materials and match—or exceed—the profile of entering students to their early decision or early action schools. Also, be sure that the schools are a good match using—at minimum—my “Big 3” criteria: prospective major, student body size, and location.
The Difference is Flexibility
Ultimately, while both early decision and early action reduce the long wait of “did I get in?” early action offers the greatest flexibility. Our daughter was admitted early action to all three of the schools she applied to, then visited each school once again to make her final decision. She found visiting the schools as an admitted student was much more satisfying than visiting as an applicant.
Final Thoughts
If your student has a clear top choice school they genuinely feel they’re qualified for, have them apply early action. It provides an early admissions decision, yet still gives them the flexibility of waiting until May 1 to commit. But if your student—and you—believe early decision can work for them, go for it.
One last thought: if your student has been admitted through early action and decides not to attend that school, please have them inform the admissions office of their decision. This may not be required, but serves two purposes. First, it saves the admission office wasting their time contacting a student who won’t be joining them. Second, your student won’t be bombarded by frequent emails and other contacts from that school. That’s a win-win.