<p>I am aware that this topic has been posted on CC many times before. However, I am not sure why anyone would choose SCEA over EA, if SCEA precludes one from applying to other Universities early and confers no advantage in increasing one's acceptance chances. Therefore, it seems to me that SCEA is no different from EA apart from the restrictions, and that it would be in everyone's best interest to apply EA.</p>
<p>Individual colleges allow either restricted or unrestricted EA. The applicant doesn’t choose, but must follow the application policies of the targeted school. If you want to go to a college that has SCEA, you will have to do SCEA. If you don’t care so much where you go, but just want to get into some college early, your odds would be higher applying EA to multiple schools that have EA. </p>
<p>SCEA is more binding than EA is, but less than ED. So: ED > SCEA > EA essentially in that ED helps the most, SCEA less, and EA close to not at all. </p>
<p>^ Exactly. At a school like Tulane which offers both, applying SCEA indicates a greater level of interest than just EA. </p>