Application Strategy: The alphabet soup of RA, EA, REA, ED, ED1, ED2, RD!
College admissions has become a strategy game and we’ll help you make a plan.
Rolling Admissions: You can apply anytime, and the school will let you know about their decision as soon as they’ve reviewed your application. If you like a school that uses rolling admissions, there is zero reason not to do this. Rolling admissions schools like the University of Pittsburgh run out of spots, so it makes sense to get your application in early. That said, check the fine print. Penn State, for example, lets Early Action applicants know before their rolling admissions applicants.
Early Action (EA) means that you can apply in the early fall and hear by mid-December if you are accepted, rejected, or deferred to Regular Decision. If accepted, you are not bound to go. That means EA is more selective than Regular Decision.
Restrictive Early Action (REA) means that there are limits on where else you can apply. For example, Yale and Georgetown require students not to apply anywhere else except a state school.
Early Decision (ED) means that you can apply in the early fall and hear by mid-December if you are accepted, rejected, or deferred to Regular Decision. If accepted, you are BOUND to go. That means ED is actually less selective than Regular Decision because the college gets the benefit of your commitment. If you need a particular financial aid package, ED is not the right choice.
Early Decision is more important than ever because colleges do not like uncertainty. Remember that schools are businesses so it’s their goal to fill their class with the brightest students they can find. If you apply Early Decision, you will have a better chance of getting accepted, but you will be bound to the college, so do your research before deciding. That means taking advantage of all the virtual content, including online tours, information sessions, and student panels. Reach out to students who attend the college and ask them questions.
Early Decision 1 and 2: Some schools have a first round of ED in the fall and a second round in the early winter. So if you get deferred from your ED school, you have the option of applying somewhere else ED2.
Regular Decision just means you apply in the big pool and find out in the spring. This is tough because some schools reject students who they perceive are overqualified because they assume they are a safety. RD is risky, but it’s also where most people end up. There are certain RD slots earmarked for kids who need financial aid since they are not able to apply ED.
