why can't you do both ED and EA?

<p>On MIT's website, it states that EA is nonbinding- but that you can't apply to binding decision process like ED. I just want to clarify that that's what it meant- because I was confused about how one poster on CC stated she was applying to Penn ED and Uchicago EA. Can you do that?</p>

<p>Its totally up to the individual colleges- some allow it, some don’t. . However, all colleges that offer ED or SCEA options also allow early applications to Public colleges and Universities. They also allow early applications that are Required for Merit Scholarship consideration- such as those at USC or BU.</p>

<p>The poster who stated she was applying Penn ED and Chgo EA must be mistaken – or her guidance counselor is an idiot.</p>

<p>You can apply ED to Penn and EA to U of C. I believe I called last year and Penn said it’s ok.
Here is a thread about this.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/769689-can-i-ed-upenn-ea-other-colleges.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/769689-can-i-ed-upenn-ea-other-colleges.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I know plenty of people who have applied to ivy’s ED and Chicago EA (including Penn). To my understanding its frowned upon by top schools but there’s nothing they can really do about it.</p>

<p>^they wouldn’t even know if you applied elsewhere EA</p>

<p>I disagree that it’s frown up from top colleges. I think they agree it’s ok as long as you don’t break the ED agreement.</p>

<p>A handy chart from the Common App helps clarify the various decision plan rules: </p>

<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012/2012DecisionPlanRules.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012/2012DecisionPlanRules.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Some colleges with EA prohibit you from applying ED elsewhere but many that have EA allow you to apply ED or EA elsewhere. UChicago states that you can apply ED or EA elsewhere.</p>