<p>I know you apply ED around November, but when do you apply EA somewhere?</p>
<p>It varies by school, but EA dates are also usually around November or December as well. Keep in mind that Yale, Stanford and Harvard have SINGLE CHOICE EA, which means if you apply to one of them EA you can't apply early admissions (or ED) elsewhere. (You can, however, still apply to a rolling admissions school)</p>
<p>For the rest of the schools that offer Early Action, you can apply to as many other non-single choice EA, rolling admissions and RD schools as you'd like. You can even apply ED to one school at the same time you're sending out EA applications.</p>
<p>A few caveats: If your grades are borderline, sometimes it might be worth waiting until after first semester grades come out to apply. And, there is not always an admissions boost from applying EA --- applying EA (or ED for that matter) won't get always get you into a reach school, for example, if you aren't in the ball park. In a very few cases, acceptance rates are actually LOWER for EA applicants than RD rates, so be sure you compare before deciding. </p>
<p>Aside from those two caveats, there is very little downside to applying EA, and, in fact, I recommend that everyone have at least one "safe bet" EA or rolling admissions school on their list. It sure makes the rest of the admissions season a lot easier to take if you have an EA or rolling admissions acceptance in hand while you're waiting for your other decisions. :)</p>
<p>"It sure makes the rest of the admissions season a lot easier to take if you have an EA or rolling admissions acceptance in hand while you're waiting for your other decisions. "
So, so true. I applied both EA and ED--the EA to a not-very-selective liberal arts college that I like but am not crazy about, and the ED to a very selective liberal arts college that I was basically in love with. I received my EA acceptance (with generous merit $$) a week before my ED rejection. Having the safety doesn't make the rejection any less painful, but at least I'm not thinking "What if I don't even go to college next year?"</p>