@momofsenior1 , answeredquestions well. A few things I want to add
1 Early programs constantly change, so it is critical to read what the current rules are. If in doubt, call the AO. Just as examples, UVA and BC are now adding ED to their choices now. There was a time when one could apply EA to BC and ED to another school, but then they changed to what is called Single Choice Early Action (SCEA). HPYSM all have this. They do not have ED, but their EA program does not allow a student to apply ED if they apply EA to their school. Nor do they allow other EA schools with some exceptions. They want to be the one and only EA application that the student sends out, hence the SCEA designation. The exceptions are usually state schools . Or any school with rolling polices orEA2. Yeah, I never saw anything called EA1 so never thought that there was an EA2, but there is. There are other Conditions and it can vary .l. There is also ED1 and ED2.
Most of the time, if accepted ED, it’s game over, and unless financial aid is involved with an inadequate package to make it possible, the students are not supposed to apply to other schools, and are supposed to withdraw applications to any other schools that may be outstanding, including any acceptances. A contract stipulating these terms, often signed by parent, school GC as well as student is usually part of the ED application.
Bottom line, you have to read the stipulations of each schools Admissions programs and make sure that you are operating under current rules.
2 EA is not just to get an early advantage, but also there are scholarships at some schools that require EA applications as @momofsenior1 explained. Also, for many state schools, if you don’t get your application in early, seats fill up in certain majors and you can get shut out. Also getting accepted to some of these schools is systematically more difficult over time as there are fewer seats. So it is not to your advantage to apply late to certain schools even those with generously late deadlines. Penn State, for example, says that 3 numbers pretty much determine acceptance; test score, class rank and date of your application. That is a reason why SCEA schools give exception to rolling applications altogether and EA at state schools. It’s a deadly loss to lose or compromise your state school choice on what may be a pipe dream SCEA app to top school.
One of my kids applied to Georgetown, BC, State school, St Bonaventure. Got into ST B with pretty much full cost paid State school, no money but low cost. BC accepted with no money offered and its big price tag. Deferred at Georgetown. This gave him an excellent overview of where he stood in the application process, and he could cull certain schools from his list for RD
So when he did his RD applications, it was for some lottery ticket schools, and for personal preferences for some things that were not covered by his acceptances. It made for a low stress app process,and a relaxing holiday season with his bases already covered.
IMO, it’s not a good idea just to apply to your lottery ticket ED school early, because it is really demoralizing and stressful to be sitting there with a deferral or even outright rejection in hand when peers are dancing around with acceptances. Not a good way to enter the RD round and the winter vacation. Now, the safety school becomes imperative. Confidence is eroded. It’s hard to be up when you’ve been turned down by your first choice school.
So you pair that ED school with that State school app and maybe a few EA schools that you know will accept you. Maybe some midrange schools too, some schools with money. The EA process can be a litmus test, a barometer as to what the student’s acceptance range is, and what moneys are possible. s. It can also be a wake up call. But you can mitigate that by making sure you have some sure things in the mix. Then you can apply to any school you want with impunity. You have your safety schools in place.
3 Yes, there are disadvantages to applying early. Even EA. A kid whose course rigor, and grades are on an upward swing and now is showing some real promise in putting that nose to the grind stone won’t get the advantage of that first semester gpa senior year. One of mine was in that situation. Not a great freshman year–needed to get into gear. Also did not qualify for some of the more advanced courses. Did much better sophomore year, but still not in the most advanced courses but grades got him into AP and honors for junior year where he really excelled. A strong senior semester in tough courses could be a gamechanger in admissions for someone with that profile.
Also the kid who needs to retake some tests. Or take them. Maybe the SAT is not good, but it’s discovered the ACT appears to be more his bag, Something happens and can’t take a scheduled test. These things happen. You might need to squeeze in another test score senior year first semester to bolster the application.
You also have to get those apps out early which might be an issue for some kids and schools. There are those deadlines that have to be met. You can’t rush a snail and it’s ultimately the kid who has to get those applications done and out.
For financial aid, I think ED is an advantage. Usually, schools are more generous in FA with ED. The FA coffers are still full; they aren’t scraping for the last bits early in the season. Fewer FA kids apply ED. Schools really do not want ED kids to have to renege. A major reason for ED is to increase yield. Word gets out and if it looks like ED is just for the well to do (and these rumors are still out there) and if too many people are not happy with ED packages that they have to turn down and do get better with RD schools, it’s a bad thing. So if your ED financial aid package is not doable, you can have a more relaxed conversation with Admissions and FA. You still have the rest of the application season ahead of you and the school isn’t in crunch mode like they will be in April when the bulk of their packages are out and so many people want to discuss, negotiate, complain about the financial aid. Some schools out and out say that they will meet full demonstrated need during ED though they do not guarantee that during RD.
You do lose out in Merit. That is a major consideration if that is what you have to have or want. Merit money is usually given by Admissions to get the yield up and get those kids that they want the most. Colleges are businesses and it is not good business practice to throw unnecessary money somewhere. When you apply ED, you are a done deal. Why do they need to offer you merit money? Often scholarships are offered in the spring anyways, so you have to wait till then to find out if you get anything. I’ve rarely seen merit for ED. Only read about on this board, in fact. Don’t personally know one single case of anyone getting merit money ED. I suppose there are scholarships that truly include everyone because they are set up that way, and so ED kids are included for consideration and they are to be awarded to the very best students at the school, but those are rare. I would not count on anything other than automatic merit by test/gpa scores for ED.