<p>I realize u can apply to only one school Early Decision. But are there any limits on the number of schools via Early Action?</p>
<p>I was surprised to hear a friend insist that there are limits on Early Action. Or is the limit imposed by HS college counselors rather than by colleges?</p>
<p>Some schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and a few other colleges have Single Choice Early Action (SCEA) which is restrictive, meaning you can only apply Early Action (EA) to their school and not anywhere else. Look through the Common Application member schools for Application requirements: <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/Login#!PublicPages/ApplicationRequirements”>https://www.commonapp.org/Login#!PublicPages/ApplicationRequirements</a></p>
<p>^more precisely, you can apply SCEA to their school and add as many public universities as you wish.</p>
<p>So, lemme see if I understand: as long as an applicant does not apply to this half-doz of schools w restricted EA, then an applicant can apply to any other EA school w no limits on the number of schools? </p>
<p>^^ Yes! That is one strategy many students use; they apply to a handful of non-binding early action schools.</p>
<p>^^ yes, exactly. Applicants may apply EA to their safeties and add a couple Rolling admissions, and have a couple admissions in the pocket early on.</p>
<p>Yes, apply to EA wherever particularly if you don’t need to improve your credential or the school has low EA rejection rate. Many schools have the merit scholarship deadline the same as EA. In other words, RD would not eligible. For Stanford, for instance, even it is SCEA, you may still apply to EA to public colleges or to schools that limit financial aid to early applicants.</p>
<p>Look into each college’s policy. I always suggest that students do what my son did last fall: find a bunch of colleges with non-binding Early Notification options (preferably, ones with free applications) or rolling admissions. Ideally, you’ll have a few attractive offers in hand by December, and you won’t have to scramble frantically for more “safeties.” If you receive disappointing news, then you’ll be able to add some safeties or low-matches to your list. If your test scores improve dramatically with another round, or you have bang-up fall grades, and several “match” schools have offered you admission with merit aid, you can try to add an extra reach college. I suggest leaving the ultra-safe schools for last. They often have later deadlines, anyway. My son received acceptances from Tulane (no aid, alas!), Willamette (merit scholarship, which they sweetened later on), Eckerd (Presidential scholarship), and Guilford (also a very nice scholarship) before Christmas. That softened the blow of his rejection from his first choice in January. </p>