<p>I have filled out many online applications, but have not come across "Early Action." In Columbia's online application, there's only "Regular Decision" and "Early Decision," much like the Common App. Is there a special section for Early Action that I'm not seeing?</p>
<p>Many colleges have gotten rid of early action b/c people who arent really interested in the school will apply anyway just to see if they can get in.</p>
<p>Schools do not necessarily offer both Early Action and Early Decision. Usually it is one or the other.</p>
<p>early action benefits the student. early decision benifits the institution. </p>
<p>most schools are shifting to ed because it helps their rankings.</p>
<p>And "need blind" schools like it because the applicant pool is much richer on average than EA applicants because most EA applicants apply EA because their matriculation hinges on aid, so they can be less selective knowing that they will make a lot of money off the ED round.</p>
<p>why do colleges do anything to raise their rank? they know it means nothing, yet they want it to be as high as possible. no matter how you do the rankings, most americans will think harvard is the best school in the country.</p>
<p>and in response to the EA/ED question, ED is just easier for the schools. the student is obligated to go there so he doesnt need any scholarships to be wooed. also, they have a 100% yield from ED, whereas EA could be less, but for SCEA it may be the same or more than RD. i think most places with EA are the strongest schools like harvard, yale, stanford, mit, caltech, uchicago, and georgetown but i dont know why they arent ED. </p>
<p>a question i would like to add is:
if a person is deffered from EA or ED how often is s/he picked up in RD, or are most of these people just rejected in RD?</p>