I’m pretty new to this whole college thing, and I would love it if somebody can spare some help! Hows does the EA process work? What’s the difference between EA and ED? I’ve heard that you can only applie to one ED at once, but do you have to go if you’re offered admission? Are there anything else that I should know before I apply for ED/EA next year? Thanks.
<p>EA: Early Action. You are not bound to go if you are accepted.
ED: Early Decision. You are bound to go if you are accepted.</p>
<p>Are there any restrictions on either? And does it help your chances if you apply for EA/ED?</p>
<p>to elaborate:</p>
<p>This is a basic overview; read the individual schools' websites for specific rules and regulations to their specific programs....</p>
<p>EA: you can apply to as many of these as you wish and are not bound to attend if they accept you. You can still apply to an ED school too. Most EA schools want your App in between mid November and mid December, and they notify you in January of their decision.</p>
<p>SCEA: "Single Choice EA" A version where you may only apply to this one SCEA school (no EDs or other EAs at the same time.) However, you may apply to Rolling Admission or Regular Decision schools concurrently.</p>
<p>ED: You are bound to go if admitted, and upon admission must immediately withdraw all your apps out to other schools. You may not apply to more than one ED school-- unless you are denied admission and there is still time to apply to a second school under a later round of ED. (Some schools have "ED2" to allow students to do this.) While applying ED, you may apply EA and RD to other schools too, but must immediately withdraw these apps if you get in under ED.</p>
<p>Rolling Admission: Some schools render admission decisions quite quickly, in the order applications are received, and you are not bound to go-- it counts as a RD application. You can apply to these schools in early fall and know within weeks whether or not you are admitted.</p>
<p>Regular Decision: At most schools, you Apply in the fall/winter and you hear back in March/April. You need to decide which school you will attend by May 1st.</p>
<p>A big problem with ED is that the financial aid awards from various schools cannot be weighed against one another. If you will need significant financial aid to attend school you want to be cautious about applying ED and being bound to a worse than optimal financial aid package. Discuss this with your counselor.</p>