<p>So, I'm a bit confused about what type of application to do for each college. For example, should you apply early decision for your matches or reaches?</p>
<p>Please reply back about which colleges to apply early decision, early action, and regular. Thanks!</p>
<p>Early Decision is usually a binding plan. You can only apply early decision to one school and you will get an acceptance/rejection in a few weeks. The acceptance rate is often higher, but it will not make up for having subpar stats (below 25% percentile). If you are accepted to your ED school, you must cancel applications to all other schools IF the financial package they give you fits your needs. If they do not give you enough money, you are dropped out of the binding agreement.</p>
<p>Early action is a bit different - it’s not binding, you just apply earlier, get a decision earlier. You will often get priority for scholarships. You can still apply to other schools if you apply to one early action and you can compare your financial aid packages / acceptances from other schools. The acceptance rate is usually higher for EA as well.</p>
<p>Schools may or may not offer different early admissions programs. USC for example has neither early action or early decision. Caltech has Early action, but not early decision. WashU has early decision, but not early action. Each school may have a different policy on how early admissions programs are treated so if you are planning on applying to one be sure you know what you are getting yourself into.</p>
<p>Regular decision is the normal pool, where you will likely apply to most of your universities. </p>
<p>More info is here on collegeboard’s website
<a href=“Early Decision and Early Action – Counselors | College Board”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/early</a></p>
<p>You can only apply ED to one school. If you are confident with the rest of your transcript, and have no plans to take any standardized tests beyond October, choose EA (or ED for your number one choice) because you will get a reply sooner and have a slightly higher chance of admission. Instead of just accept/reject, there is the defer option where they will put you in the RD pool if you don’t get in EA/ED. However, please note that not all schools have EA or ED.</p>
<p>As others mention, ED is binding and you can only apply to one school under this program so only apply ED if there is a single school you want to attend above all others. Otherwise stick to non binding plans like EA and rolling.</p>
<p>Make sure you read the particulars for each school. There are some colleges that offer Restrictive Early Action or Single Choice Early Action. Usually in those cases you are prohibited from applying early or ED to any other private U.</p>