Welcome high school juniors, seniors, and parents! College application and admission season is in full swing as high school upper-class students begin to determine their future college, career plans, and goals.
From submitting applications, applying for financial aid, and fulfilling other admission requirements, it’s easy for students and their families to feel overwhelmed and confused.
One of the questions and pain points for many prospective undergraduate and incoming first-year students is the difference between an early action and early decision admission and how to decide which option is right for them.
Let’s define and discuss early action vs. early decision so that students can be assured and confident in their decision.
What is early action?
Early action is a non-binding application process that allows students to apply early and receive a decision from a school without commitment. This decision can either confirm, deny, or waitlist a student’s acceptance into their desired school.
Unlike regular applications, however, early action applications allow students to apply and potentially gain admission much earlier. Students will generally submit their applications by mid-November or early December, and schools typically send out their early action decisions in December, January, or February.
For example, at University of Bridgeport, our Early Action I deadline typically falls on December 1, but we also offer an Early Action II deadline of February 1 each year, and rolling admissions after that. Our rolling admission policy provides students and their families the flexibility to figure out their post-secondary plans. It means they won’t have to wait until after an application deadline to find out if they are accepted, especially if they apply early in their senior year.
What is early decision?
Early decision is a binding application process in which students apply, commit, and must attend a specific college or university if they are accepted through signatures from students, their families, and school counselors. This type of application also means that students can only apply to one school.
Many private and highly selective schools utilize this application process, and it’s best for students who know their first-choice college or university. Early decision deadlines are typically due November 1st or 15th, with decisions coming four to six weeks later.
Students may apply to other schools while they wait to hear about their admission through early action. Still, if accepted through early decision, students will be required to decline or withdraw any applications at other colleges and may not apply to more schools once a decision has been made.
Students should always do their research and contact the admissions office of their desired school or university to understand the rules, requirements, and deadlines of both early decision and early action applications.
Looking to stay organized during your college search? Download our Admissions Checklist to keep track of your UB Journey!
Early action versus early decision: Which one is right for me?
Deciding between early action and early decision depends on you, your interests, and your needs.
For example, if you are only interested in one school and program that only accepts a select number of high-performing, competitive applicants and are confident in this decision, applying through early decision would be best.
However, if you are interested in several different schools and programs, applying through early action allows you more flexibility. Plus, early-action applicants can compare the financial aid and scholarship packages each school offers and make a decision that best fits them and their needs. With early decision applications, students cannot compare packages and will need to confirm they will receive sufficient aid before applying.
Furthermore, applying early action at University of Bridgeport means students are eligible for priority consideration for both admission and scholarships. With two early action deadlines, applicants have time to visit and engage with UB while still receiving the maximum scholarship award.
Early action and early decision both offer students the opportunity to reduce stress by cutting the time spent waiting on a decision and, once accepted, more time to prepare for school (looking for housing, enrolling in classes, etc.). However, if students are feeling pressured or overwhelmed to apply and decide on a school early, it might be best to apply through the non-binding early action application or apply by the regular or rolling deadline.
Students should research and create an admissions checklist for their desired schools to keep them on schedule during the college admissions process.
With over 70+ career and student-focused programs and an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, University of Bridgeport students never feel like a number. Learn more about our school, programs, and how we ensure you get through college and into a great career by contacting us today.
It’s time to take the next step toward your future!