<p>Can I apply early decision and early action at the same time? I know one is binding and the other isn't, but there is a possibility of rejection. Would the other college that I'm applying to with ED find out that I've applied somewhere else with EA?</p>
<p>You can't do both as far as I know.</p>
<p>No, you cannot apply ED and also apply EA at another school concurrently. As well, you cannot apply Single Choice Early Action (SCEA) and also apply ED or EA at another school.</p>
<p>Eventually, during the ED process, the applicant, the applicant's parents and the applicant's H.S. guidance counselor will be asked to sign a card/statement acknowledging the stipulations of the specific college's ED program. If you want to know what the repercussions are of breaching the signed agreement, ask your counselor -- but be prepared to be met with a scornful look. You place yourself at risk, and the reputation of your H.S. and your H.S. guidance counselor will be exposed as well.</p>
<p>NorCalDad, then what is the difference between SCEA and ED?</p>
<p>azsxdc</p>
<p>There's an amazing feature on this forum called a "search" button. This question and variants of it still seem to come up every day, though.</p>
<p>Nevertheless...
SCEA = can't apply to other colleges early (but an apply to a rolling admissions school). If you get in early, it's not binding.
ED = can't apply to other colleges early, and if you get in early, you are obligated to go. The only way out of it, as far as I know, is if there's a severe problem with the financial aid package, and you can't pay up as much as they're asking you to.</p>
<p>azsxdc, </p>
<p>Early Decision (ED) carries a binding commitment to enroll at that school if the applicant is accepted.</p>
<p>Single Choice Early Action (SCEA) is one form of Early Action (EA) and is more restrictive than EA because SCEA allows only a "single choice" or one school in which the applicant may submit an application under an early notification plan. Neither SCEA or EA decisions are binding, and no obligation is placed on enrolling at the school should acceptance be offered.</p>
<p>Senioritis42, you are corect that the financial pinch on the student is very often the sole acceptable reason to disengage from the commitment to enroll. Caveat emptor: If you choose to plead financial inability, don't expect that you can easily choose one of your other colleges in which you have applied RD. Adcoms have a way of communicating with each other.</p>
<p>Actually, some ED schools allow you to apply to other EA programs. For example, Columbia says:
"While Columbia does not necessarily encourage the filing of both Early Decision (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) applications, we do not prohibit candidates from doing so."</p>
<p>You should check with your ED school to see what their policy is.</p>
<p>Quirkily, thanks for the correction. I should amend my statement to say that you cannot do ED and SCEA concurrently (or at least of the selective schools, I know!). And you are absolutely right... always check with admissions department of the specific school(s).</p>
<p>Always check particular college. Most that have ED do allow you to apply EA elsewhere. Where you usually get an issue is when a college has EA. Stan, Harv, and Yale have single choice EA meaning if you apply for it, you cannot also apply ED or EA elsewhere. Some other colleges with EA allow you to apply EA elsewhere but not ED.</p>
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Some other colleges with EA allow you to apply EA elsewhere but not ED.
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<p>An example of this is Georgetown, where if you apply EA there, you can not apply ED at another school.</p>
<p>it varies from school to school. i applied to one school ed, and two other schools ea. the only restrictions the ed school put out had to do with once you were accepted.</p>