Apply EA and ED simultaneously in different institutions

Applying to College
1

I was wondering whether I could apply ED, which is binding, and apply EA to other colleges. MIT says on its official admission’s web page:

“If you apply to another school during Early Action that does have a restriction, MIT requires that you respect those rules. So for example, if you apply to another school that is “single choice” - meaning that you can only apply there during the early period - you may not simultaneously apply to MIT. But that’s just good manners.”

Is this about “just good manners” or would applying EA to any other institution cause me any “harm” ?

2

You need to check each school’s web site to see what the restrictions are. For instance Georgetown doesn’t allow you to apply ED if you apply using their EA admission.

3

It is my understanding that if an EA school is not single choice (or list other restrictions), then you can apply to as many EA as you want. You can also ED (as long as that school doesn’t have any restrictions.) However, if you get in to the ED, you are bound to attend and should then withdraw all other applications.

4

You've not read carefully. This refers to schools that have restricted or single choice early action (e.g. HYPS, GTown, BC). Many EA schools do NOT have restrictions or Single Choice and you're perfectly allowed to apply to those schools via EA.
5

No you can’t. If you are applying ED, you are bound to go to that school. The common app will have a section that says you are applying ED and you, your parents, and GC will agree to abide by those rules. If you want to apply to more than one school, don’t apply ED.

6

@bopper
You CAN apply to other schools if you are applying ED somewhere else, but you CAN NOT apply ED to two or more schools. No matter how many schools you apply to in total, if you get in to your ED, you are bound to it (except in some financial situations).

7

Thanks @2018eastorwest

I now found this at Columbia’s webstie that supports your idea:

"According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling guidelines, “while pursuing admission under an Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions, but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time.” While Columbia does not necessarily encourage the filing of both Early Decision (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) applications, we do not prohibit candidates from doing so. However, candidates should be aware that Columbia’s Early Decision program is a binding agreement and a candidate will be expected to enroll, regardless of any pending applications (early or otherwise). "

8

" If you are applying ED, you are bound to go to that school. "

Wrong. If your family determines that the ED institution is unaffordable, you can ask to be released from the ED agreement. What matters is what your family thinks about affordability - not what the ED institution thinks your family can afford.

Not to mention of course, that if your application list includes a bunch of places that don’t care about other institutions’ ED agreements, you can bail on an ED institution for any reason at all. However that ED institution might maltreat future ED applicants from your high school, and your guidance counselor might get ticked off with you, so please don’t plan on following that kind of strategy. Apply ED only if the ED institution is your absolute first choice, and if its Net Price Calculator indicates that it is almost certain to prove affordable.

9

@kuikuzk ED and EA work like this:
I am applying to SCU EA and Scripps ED.

Let’s say I get my SCU admission results first. I get in. Yay. I have until May 1 to decide whether or not I want to go.

My regular applications have already been submitted. I can’t do anything about that now.

Now, come December 15, I get my ED results from Scripps. I get in. I can no longer attend SCU, and I must withdraw all of my regular applications.

HOWEVER, let’s say I get deferred from ED Scripps. I am now free to apply to my ED2 school (only offered by some institutions), because I am in the RD pool for Scripps. The binding decision is gone. If I get into my ED2 school, then I have to follow the same process as I did for getting into ED 1. If I get rejected or deferred AGAIN from my ED2 school, then I must wait for RD decisions to come out.

Come March. I get all of my admissions decisions. I get rejected by a few of my RD schools, and accepted into some. But what happened to my two ED schools? Well, if I get in, I can choose whether or not I want to go. Then you can fight with your parents on end about finances, school choices, resources, all the works that go into choosing a college that’s right for you! enthusiastic sarcasm

However, I ask you to keep in mind the policies of Early admissions. Some schools, like Stanford, Princeton, etc. have SCEA (Single Choice Early Action), and there are restrictions for early application there. Some schools will offer ED 2 plans, which are due after admissions decisions for ED 1 plans come out. ED 2 is essentially the same as ED 1, in respects to what happens when you get in, but just at a later time (apps are due Jan, decisions come out like Feb). Also, since ED is reserved for dream schools, make sure you work out finances before. It would be sad (you would have to withdraw your acceptance on the grounds of finances) if you got in ED for a dream school, but couldn’t go because of finances.

10

As stated in post #7, You get to decide if your FA offer from Scripps is enough to attend. If it’s not then SCU is still in play.