Should You Apply to Schools Early Action?

Applying to college Early Action allows students the opportunity to apply to the top colleges of their choice. They are able to know if they are accepted before students who apply to college by Regular Decision that generally know in the spring. However, unlike Early Decision, Early Action allows students to apply to other schools by Early Action or Regular Decision since it is non binding, which means that you do not have to attend the school if you are accepted.

The benefits to applying Early Action may help you decide what colleges are at the top of your list. The increase in admission rates to those who apply Early Action compared to applying Regular Decision can be seen at selective schools where a fairly large advantage can be gained. For example, Notre Dame and Caltech’s Early Action admission rates are twice as much as their Regular Decisions. Also, since you are applying early, it means that scholarship opportunities can be greater than normal because there will be more money to spare during the fall than in the spring when Regular Decisions come out.

However, it is important to note that just because you get accepted does not mean that you will be able to afford the school. Some schools do not offer early financial aid packages to those who applied Early Action, so you might not know if you can afford the school until the spring. Therefore, it is necessary to keep your options open. Luckily, by applying Early Action, you do not have the obligation to commit to the school because you have until the universal decision date which is May 1st.

https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/early-action/
https://www.collegeraptor.com/getting-in/articles/questions-answers/should-you-apply-early-decision-or-early-action-when-financial-aid-matters/