Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision are all terms that you will hear a lot during the college application process. But what do they mean? And which one is right for you?
- Early Decision is a binding agreement between you and a college. If you are accepted Early Decision, you agree to enroll at that school and withdraw all other applications. Early Decision is usually for students who have a clear first choice college and are willing to commit early.
- Early Action is non-binding, which means that you can apply Early Action to multiple schools. If you are accepted Early Action, you do not have to commit to that school right away. Early Action is a good option for students who want to get a head start on the college application process or who are unsure about their first choice college.
- Regular Decision is the traditional college application process. You submit your applications by the deadline and hear back from schools in the spring. Regular Decision is a good option for students who need more time to make their decision or who want to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools.
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