Understanding Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Regular Decision

Getting ready to apply to colleges can be an exciting yet daunting experience, especially if you're not familiar with the different types of application processes available. Understanding these options can help you make more informed decisions and streamline your application journey. Here’s a guide to the various types of college applications you might encounter:

Regular Decision (RD):

• Regular decision is the “default” or “standard” option for most universities

• The deadline typically falls in early January

• You’ll typically get a decision in March

• You can submit as many regular decision applications as you want!

Early Decision (ED):

• Early decision is a binding agreement, meaning if you get into a school ED, you are required to go

• You can apply early decision to one school

• Not every school offers ED

• The deadline for ED typically falls in November, with the decision coming out in December

• You are allowed to submit RD applications alongside an ED application, however if you get into your ED school, you must rescind (unsend) any other applications

Early Decision II (EDII):

• Early decision II is also a binding agreement that is submitted in January

• You can apply EDII after getting rejected or deferred from an ED school

• The decision comes out in March, alongside RD decisions

Early Action (EA)

• Early action applications are submitted in November, with the decision coming out in January or February

• There is no binding aspect of this! You can submit as many EA applications as you want!

Restrictive Early Action (REA):

• REA applications are non-binding EA applications, however, have some form of “condition” on them

• Examples of this include:

  • Not being able to apply early to any private schools

  • Not being allowed to apply early anywhere else

  • REA decisions do not impact your regular decision applications

Rolling Admission:

• Rolling admission schools are not binding! There is no set day decisions will come out

• There is typically a window for applications and a window for decisions (ie. You can apply anywhere from August to December, and will get your decision anywhere from September to March)

• They will review decisions as they are submitted

There is no wrong decision when picking an application type! Consult RRA or your tutor to help make a game plan that will work for you.