Early Decision vs Early Action

The four kinds of early application

Early Decision is a promise

When you apply ED, you, a parent and your counselor sign an agreement. If you're admitted, you must withdraw your other applications and not start new ones.

The one common exception is money. If you applied for financial aid, you don't have to withdraw other applications until you've seen the ED school's aid offer, and colleges typically release you if the aid isn't enough to make attending possible. Only apply ED to a school you'd be happy to attend at the price you can afford.

Restrictive early action

Some very selective schools use a non-binding early round that limits where else you can apply early:

• Harvard (REA): Nov 1, decision by mid-December. You can't apply early to other private colleges, but you can apply to non-binding early programs at public universities.
• Yale (Single-Choice EA): Nov 1, mid-December. Exceptions include non-binding early programs at public schools and early rounds that notify after Jan 1, such as ED II.
• Princeton (Single-Choice EA): Nov 1, mid-December, with similar exceptions for public universities.
• Stanford (REA): Nov 1, decisions by mid-December.

Each school's rules are slightly different, so read its early action page before you apply.

Early deadlines for fall 2026 applicants

Most of these fall in early November. If you're reading this later, use them as a guide to next year's dates and check each school's site.

• MIT Early Action (not restrictive): Nov 1, decisions in mid-December.
• Georgetown Early Action: Nov 1, decisions by Dec 15. You can't also apply to a binding ED program.
• Duke Early Decision: Nov 2, decisions in mid-December.
• UT Austin Early Action: Oct 15 (now passed; regular deadline Dec 1).
• Wesleyan: ED I Nov 15 (notified by Dec 15), ED II Jan 1 (notified by Feb 15).

Should you apply early?

• Applying EA where it's offered usually just means hearing back sooner. Check the rules first: if you apply to a restrictive early round (like Harvard's or Yale's) or to Georgetown, it limits where else you can apply early.
• Apply ED only if one school is clearly your first choice and you've checked its net price with a family member.
• Your application has to be ready by the early deadline. Some schools accept test dates after it (Penn takes the November SAT for Early Decision, for example), so check each school and plan with the SAT and ACT guides.