<p>SCEA means you're not allowed to apply EARLY anywhere else, right? Even though some other country's university's deadline is early(like Oxford's deadline is in Oct), since it is not an "early" admission, can I still apply to both?? Might sound like an obvious question. I'm assuming yes for this...</p>
<p>NO. SCEA means that you are not allowed to apply early to EA and ED schools in the US. You can still apply to schools that have rolling admissions or just happen to have early deadlines.</p>
<p>thanks. So it'd be the same thing for ED, right? I will be allowed to apply to a non EA/ED schools along with the ED school but will have to attend the ED school if accepted?</p>
<p>The whole idea of ED is that you are entering into a contract with an ED school getting extra consideration and early notification in exchange for your commitment to go there if accepted. You are supposed to withdraw or turn down all other schools upon acceptance to your ED school. </p>
<p>In reality, if you break your ED contract for something other than a school that is on the ED notification list (most of the selective private US colleges), there would be probably be no consequence other than that of you not keeping to your word, which to me is one of the worst of all, as it does mark you for what you are. Yes, it does. The other possible consequence is that because the world of select academia is small, you would be very surprised who knows whom and all of the coincidences that occur in this world and you just might end up with someone involved in the whole process who will know you for what you are and what you did. Crazier things have happened, believe me in school apps, jobs, etc. It is truly a small world with far fewer than 6 degrees of separation.</p>