Early Action and Early Decision: Is it the Best Idea for You?

It seems that there are multiple classifications of college-bound high school students out there. There are those students that are doing their best to revel in their high school experience and then there are those students that are doing everything they can to get it over with, ready to move on to bigger and better things. For those students that belong to the latter category, there is such a thing called Early Action or Early Decision that is worth at least taking a look at, although it is something that not every college offers to their applicants.

What Is Early Decision?

Early decision, or early action, is a type of college admissions process that participating universities and colleges offer that gives students the chance to apply to the college of their choice early, and get an early decision-hence the name. This is for students who want to get a head start on their college experience, or have the need or desire to know early for one reason or another.

What is the Deadline for Early Action?

All early action applications must be submitted in whole by November 1 in most cases. Most colleges require that applications be submitted by January 1 for regular decision, but instead of finding out whether or not they were accepted in the spring, they can find out in the middle of December, giving them a head start on their college process.

Are There Any Extra Requirements?

In most cases, there are no extra requirements for an early decision application. There are so many reasons why a student would need an early decision, but in most cases students apply for early decision to schools that they are sure they want to attend. In this case, it is important to note that students who apply for early action are among stiff competition, so applications must be filled out accurately and intelligently, with every recommended piece of documentation or otherwise included. This includes personal statements or essays, letters of recommendations, sealed transcripts, required standardized test scores, or just about anything else of that nature that the college admission team might require; it is best to think ahead in this case.

Early decision is not for everyone. Those who are not accepted should not feel discouraged, as this is a time of stiff competition and should only be used for the stronger applicants out there that any school would be thrilled to accept.