<p>Well, say you were accpted by a school EA, but you want to stick around and apply to other schools RD. Cann you "defer" your choice of schools until after RD results come back, or do you have to accept before RD? </p>
<p>Sorry for the akward wording.</p>
<p>If you apply EA (not ED), you don't have to give them an answer until May, you just know whether or not you were accepted earlier. With ED sending in the application is a commitment to attend if you are accepted.</p>
<p>EA specifically allows you to do that. If you get admitted, you have the acceptance in hand in December. You don't have to reply until April, the same time as the other RD offers needed to be accepted or declined.</p>
<p>EA is a non binding decision that most of the time allows you to reply back by the national reply date , May 1. So you aren't "defer"-ing but rather waiting and it is allowed.</p>
<p>Thanks y'all, that really helped.</p>