What happens if you apply early action and get accepted?

Early action is non–binding. This means you are not bound to attend if you are accepted. You may also apply early action to multiple colleges.

What happens if you get accepted early action?

Early decision plans are binding: A student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. Early action plans are nonbinding: Students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.

Do I have a better chance of getting accepted if I apply early?

Applying early action definitely does increase your chance of getting accepted. It can more than double your chance; for example, at Harvard, the EA acceptance rate was 16%, whereas regular decision was 6%. Harvard filled almost half their class through EA.

Is there a downside to applying early action?

Your record might stand out more when competing with those in the regular admissions cycle. You can't compare and negotiate financial aid offers unless you receive them form several schools. Early on, it's much harder to tell where close friends (or even enemies) may be going to college.

Does applying early action increase your chances?

We can see that early decision, which is binding, is most beneficial to increasing your chances for admission. Early action does seem to improve your chances of being accepted, but not as significantly as early decision. Keep in mind that these decisions also vary from school to school.

How College Admissions Works - Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Admissions & all the rest

What happens if you get accepted early action and don't go?

Since early decision is binding, applicants should only apply under this admission plan after careful consideration. Breaking an early decision offer can come with major penalties — some high schools may even withhold transcripts from other colleges.

Can you apply both early action and regular decision?

Generally, you apply to multiple colleges through Early Action (some schools only allow single-choice Early Action) and apply to other schools via Regular Decision. Early Action lets you compare financial aid packages and other offers, giving you more time to find your best-fit college at the right price.

Who should not apply early decision?

You're strongly considering other schools

It's completely possible to be in love with multiple schools, but you can't apply to more than one for early decision. You should, however, apply to other schools via regular decision if you don't get accepted to your early decision school.

Why do I regret applying early decision?

Students who regret their decision to apply ED are usually unhappy because of the financial aid package they receive. Early-decision students usually know what they're in for when they apply, but your financial aid package is one thing that you can't predict. The college bill can take anyone by surprise.

Does early action look at senior grades?

But what happens if you've applied to college as an Early Decision or Early Action applicant? Most colleges will still want to be sent grades from your first quarter of senior year. However, their decision to accept or reject you into their institution will have already been made based on your grades from junior year.

Do colleges care if you apply early?

Timing and application strategy are key in selective admissions, and applying in the early round can improve the chances of getting an acceptance letter — but only if students are ready.

How long does it take for a college to accept or reject you early action?

It can take a few weeks to a few months to hear back for a college admissions decision, depending on the type of application you submitted. Early applicants — such as early decision or early action — will generally hear back in December while regular decision applicants will receive their admission decision in April.

How long does it take to get an acceptance letter for early action?

The Timeline of College Acceptance Letters

If you apply Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) you submit your applications sometime between October and November of your senior year. Most decision letters are sent out sometime between the beginning of December and mid-January.

Can you change your mind after applying early decision?

Can Applicants Withdraw Early Decision Applications? If a student were to change their mind about committing to that school after submitting their application and before they learn of their decision, they have every right to withdraw their application.

Is it better to do early action or regular?

For many students, one of the main appeals of applying early is receiving an admission decision earlier, typically by December or January. The admission rates in the early application pool also tend to be higher, even though the pool is typically more competitive than the regular round.

Is regular decision worse than early action?

There are several advantages to applying for regular decision over early action or early decision. With regular decision, you have more time to research and compare schools, so you are more likely to find the best fit for you.

How many schools should I apply to early action?

EA can come in different forms, but standard Early Action is non-binding. You can apply to as many schools EA as you'd like, and you're under no obligation to attend if you're accepted.

Do any Ivy Leagues have early action?

Some schools such as Harvard, Stanford and Georgetown offer a restrictive early action process. With it, you are only allowed to apply to a single school by restrictive early action and not apply early decision anywhere else.

Can I say yes to two colleges?

One common question we receive from our students and families is whether you can accept offers from multiple colleges or universities. In short, the answer is no, you cannot.

What happens if you submit early action late?

Yes, even if you miss the priority deadline, there is still a chance you can get accepted at a school with rolling admissions. While you have a better chance of admission if you submit your application materials before the deadline, as long as there are still seats open in the class, you have a chance of acceptance.

Can I apply early action to multiple schools?

Yes. Unlike early decision, early action isn't a binding offer, meaning you can apply to multiple schools. You have the option to submit several applications under early action. Even with early action decisions, you don't have to decide immediately.

What are the early signs that you have been accepted into a university?

Will common app tell me if I got accepted?

College decisions aren't released on the common application. Rather, admissions decisions are released in through each of the college's admission portals that you sign in using a username and password. Every year, students open up their acceptance letters in anticipation of the exciting outcome.

Do early action applicants get likely letters?

The vast majority of accepted students do not receive a “likely letter” before official admission decisions come out. This is true no matter whether they applied early decision, early action, or regular decision.

Can you convince a college to accept you after being rejected?

In most cases, especially in early decision applications, admissions decisions are final. In rare cases, students who are rejected may appeal their decision, but only if there was an egregious error in their submitted application, such as the wrong transcript being sent in or grades being inaccurately reported.