EA or regular decision? What are the benifits?

<p>I am an International student. I will apply to college next year,so I have a question, What are the benifits of EA? And do you apply to one college EA and the others regular decision? And what actually is the difference between two? I mean someone please make clear the pros and cons of EA and regular decision. Thanks.</p>

<p>and is early action and early decision the same thing?</p>

<p>I copied and pasted from this website: [Early</a> Decision, Early Action & Rolling Admissions](<a href=“http://www.shmoop.com/college/early-decision-action-rolling-admissions.html]Early”>College 101: Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Regular Decision vs. Rolling Admission)</p>

<pre><code>“Early Decision means that if you are accepted, you are bound to that college and must accept their offer of admission. You are, shall we say, officially engaged to them.
Early Action means that if you are accepted, you are not bound to that school and may apply to other colleges during the early and regular decision application periods. You usually have until April or May to let the college know whether you want to get married. We call this an open relationship.
Single-Choice Early Action is a program which asks you to only apply early to that college and to no others. If you’re accepted, you’re not bound to go to that college, and you can apply to as many schools as you like in the Regular Decision round. You know this one is your current favorite, but you still want to be on the dating scene for a little while longer before deciding who to marry.
Rolling admission means that you can apply to a school whenever you like within a large span of time. So you can apply early in the time period or you can apply later.”
</code></pre>

<p>thanks a lot:D</p>

<p>There is no downside to EA because it is not binding. However, if you need to improve your grades senior year, or have something that won’t take place until senior year that you’d like to be considered in your application, then hold off for RD. But at least apply to some safeties EA – it will give you much comfort in the process during RD if you know that you have an acceptance. </p>

<p>Not every school has EA however. Most of the ivies are either ED or Single choice early action – which mean the decision is not binding, but you may only apply to THAT school early. Under normal EA, you may apply to as many as have that option.</p>