I’m sure this is on cc, but I can’t find it. If my son applies to a school early action, can he summit other private school applications before 12/15? He knows the others have to be regular decision. Thanks
Ughh, submit
Early Action is non binding and he can submit applications to other schools including other Early Action schools. If he is applying Early Decision that is a binding commitment to that school so he can’t make the same commitment to more than one school but he can apply to others Regular Decision or Early Action. That being said, there are a few schools that have Restrictive Early Action or other hybrids. These are your Ivies, Stanford, etc. For those you need to read the rules careful.
My sons applied to multiple Early Actions schools. You get your answer sooner but it doesn’t prevent you from applying anywhere else.
Most colleges with early action do not ask the applicant to limit other applications, other than perhaps to obey the rules of other colleges applied to. For example, MIT says this:
http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/cycles
A few colleges have early action programs that are restricted. For example, Georgetown wants early action applicants not to apply binding early decision to other colleges (but applying to other colleges through non-binding early action is fine).
https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/firstyear/early-action
But Stanford is more restrictive, in that it also wants early action applicants not to apply early action to other private colleges, with some exceptions:
http://admission.stanford.edu/apply/decision_process/restrictive.html
You need to read the rules of the school as they vary a bit. But generally it is fine to apply to other schools RD – it doesn’t matter when those applications are submitted as long as he clearly marks that he is a RD applicant.
@123Mom456 some of the Ivies don’t have any early action types of applications…they have ED only. The rest have restrictive or single choice Early action.
For any college…you need to read their rules about early action applications…if it’s restricted or single choice…you will have limitations on where else you can apply.
Same with ED. You can only apply to one ED college…but you can apply in many cases to your instate public university at the same time. However…read each college website for the specifics.
Although you can apply to the other colleges RD before the deadline, usu Jan 1, most students are busily polishing their supplemental essays right up until the deadline because there is no benefit in getting the RD apps in earlier than you need to as the college won’t start reviewing any until after the RD deadline has been reached.
Colleges with binding ED generally do not restrict other applications, except that an applicant cannot apply binding ED to more than one college at the same time. Someone can apply binding ED to his/her top choice affordable college, but also apply non-binding EA to other colleges where non-binding EA does not have restrictions like the examples in #3. However, if s/he is admitted to the binding ED college, s/he is committed to attend and must withdraw all other applications.
Of course, it is possible for there to be exceptions, though that seems unusual.
Yes.
This is NOT completely true.
Many…MANY colleges have a December 1 or even earlier deadline for student applications for,those hoping to be considered for university merit aid awards. These are NOT EA or ED applications…they are RD applications but they MUST be received by an earlier date in order to be considered for certain merit awards. So…you have to check each college.
You may find there is a very HUGE monetary penalty for missing that early deadline…you won’t be eligible for certain merit awards at certain colleges.
^^^check websites for those applying for merit aid awards
If not, be careful about rushing to submit. For many, you won’t get bonus points for early submission as ADCOMS won’t start reviewing til the deadline, and well, lots of people find typos and other things they wished they had fixed before submitting. IMHO, its better to take your time.
It’s also not smart to wait until the last minute.
Both of my kids submitted all of the college applications by mid October. They were sure happy to have this all done…and able to actually enjoy their senior year of high school.
Regardless of when you submit your applications…you should proofread them for typos.
But to each his own, I guess.
Thanks!
My younger daughter had most of her RD applications by Dec 1, so she could send them out if she didn’t get into her ED school. We saved 10+ application fees by waiting.
Know your schools. The big Florida schools (UF FSU UCF) have a first application group and a second. The first is in Oct and about half the class is from this group. it’s not really EA, just a very early application deadline.
The biggest benefit is applying for housing early.
Some schools considered ‘RD’ have rolling admission. You don’t have to apply by an early deadline, but you can find out much earlier than the March or April notifications.