<p>What is the benefit of sending in early decision over early action?
Does regular decision mean that you must attend that school if you're accepted?</p>
<p>regular decision means you can choose...
early decision is completely different from early action. both provide statistically greater acceptance rates, but early decision is binding (you have to go) while early action is non-binding. Every school has its own system; usually either ED or EA.</p>
<p>Early action (EA) is a non-binding early application process. You apply early, usually around November 1 through November 15. You get your decision (admitted, rejected, or deferred) from the college early, usually around December 15. This is not binding, so you do not have to attend if admitted. If you are deferred, you will receive a final admissions decision in the regular application pool, around April 1. You can apply EA to as many schools as you want. </p>
<p>Single-choice early action (SCEA) is a variation of early action offered by Yale and Stanford. Like early action, single-choice early action is not binding, but applicants may apply early only to that university. </p>
<p>Early decision (ED) is a binding version of early action. You apply to a college early, usually around November 1 through November 15. You get your decision (admitted, rejected, or deferred) from the college early, usually around December 15. If you are admitted, you must attend. If you need financial aid, this is probably not a good choice. If you are deferred but later admitted, you are released from the agreement and can go wherever you want. You may only apply ED to one school. Some schools offer ED II where you apply ED to that school in late December or early January and receive your decision in February. Like ED I, ED II acceptances are binding.</p>
<p>It is sometimes possible to apply early decision and early action, but this depends on the colleges involved. Georgetown does not allow early action applicants to apply early decision elsewhere, and not all early decision colleges allow applicants to apply early action elsewhere.</p>