Unraveling the Early Application Process
Shedding some light on one of college admissions’ hottest topics
BY STEPHEN J. PEMBERTON
Few elements of applying to college have generated more attention – and
questions – than applying early. Do I have to apply early? What happens if I’m
waitlisted? Are my chances better if I do go the early route? Will they get my
latest test scores? What does not help matters is that applying early is not the
same at every school. Often, applicants are confused about what they should do
or are left wondering if they did the right thing. Let’s go over some of the
basics to give you a better understanding of how it actually works.
The Basics
Generally speaking there are two types of Early Application processes: Early
Action (often referred to as EA) and Early Decision (often referred to as ED).
Early Action means you can apply to one or more schools and if you are accepted,
you are under no obligation to attend that institution. You would have until May
1 to make your decision. You can also apply to as many Early Action schools as
you like. Boston College, University of Chicago and Colorado College are
examples of schools that have Early Action programs.
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