Early Decision and Early Action are two very separate and different programs designed by universities to attract top students to their programs early in the admission process.

Early Decision -- Requires a commitment on the part of both the applicant and the college. Universities state that you may only apply to one Early Decision program and if you are admitted you are obligated to enroll. When admitted, you will be asked to withdraw any other college applications you have submitted.

Early Action -- This program offers you an early admission decision but you are not obligated to enroll. Early action is a non-binding admissions decision.

Restrictive Early Action -- Stanford and Yale are two universities that offer this policy. Restrictive Early Action is a non-binding early admission option for those students who have completed a thorough and thoughtful college search. It allows students to learn of their admission decision in December without requiring a response until May 1 or obligating them to enroll at the particular university. Further, Restrictive Early Action allows applicants to apply to as many colleges as they want under a Regular admission timeframe. This option, therefore, gives early admitted students considerably more time to reflect on future plans and, if they so choose, explore a variety of educational institutions that might meet individual needs and aspirations.

Deadlines -- The deadlines for these programs will be early in your senior year. The actual deadline varies from school to school, but in general is some time between November 1-15 of your senior year.

Most universities offer either Early Action or Early Decision but not both. It is your responsibility to review each college or university's policies and honor them if you choose to apply early.

General guidelines regarding these programs:

Early Decision removes choice on the part of the student. Today you may know that ABC University is the school for you, ten months from now, you will be a different person and your ideas, family situation or financial situation may have changed. Put some serious thought into applying Early Decision and speak to your college counselor early in the fall semester senior year before doing so. If you are applying for financial aid, we advise against applying Early Decision.

Early Action is an excellent way to go if getting in early is important to you. Many more schools are turning towards this program. The flexibility to apply to as many schools as you would like and not be bound in your decision makes this an attractive alternative to ED programs.

For both ED and EA program, if you are not admitted into a university's early program, your application will most likely be rolled into the Regular Decision pool and notification will come around late March/early April.