You can apply to undergraduate colleges and universities in two rounds: the early round and regular rounds.

The Early Round(s)

Applying early is one of the ways in which you can let your dream schools know that you’re enthusiastic about them! There are three common types of Early Rounds to consider—Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), and Restrictive Early Action (REA). As a strategic choice, when you apply early, you also hear back early!

When you apply ED, you’re making a solemn promise to a school that you’ll attend no matter what—which makes them a little more inclined to say “yes.” If it’s a top-choice program, it’s definitely a strategic move to make. Some colleges, especially top selective ones, also offer a bump in the acceptance rate when you apply ED. If you get in, you’ll have to withdraw applications from everywhere, since this is a binding acceptance. Most ED schools will let you know their decision latest by December 15. However, the binding nature can complicate financial aid negotiations and it limits your flexibility. Deadlines typically fall around November 1. Some schools offer two rounds of Early Decisions—ED I and ED II. ED II deadlines are usually alongside regular decisions in early January, and offer the same advantages as an ED. This is also binding, which means you must withdraw other applications if accepted.

EA, on the other hand, is non-binding. You can apply to multiple colleges through this route, and still consider others if accepted. While this definitely does have a competitive edge at some colleges, it’s more of a sure-shot way to have acceptances and also understand your application strategy before you give your final high-school exams! Most schools will let you know their decisions by mid- to late-December.

Some colleges—like Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Yale—offer a Restrictive Early Action round, which is non-binding like Early Action, but limits the number of other colleges you can apply to early.

A common mistake to avoid during the early round is submitting application materials that don’t demonstrate a strong fit and genuine motivation for attending the selected school. Just applying early doesn’t highlight your enthusiasm—your materials should reflect the values of the school you’re applying to and prove how you’ll be an asset to their incoming class.

If you made the decision to apply early:

• Make sure to talk to your school counselor/college-counselor and teachers well in advance—they would have to sign-off on your ED application, and send interim transcripts and LoRs by the application deadline.
• Register for and take the SAT (and if required, English proficiency exams) early, around June, since this would be an important data-point to consider in your ED decision.
• Set up a system and calendar for tracking application timelines and deadlines.

The Regular Round

This is the most common application deadline. Submissions are on or around January 1, with decision notifications in late March/early April. It is a non-binding deadline that allows you to send applications to several schools and is best for students who require more time to refine their applications or improve their scores.

Unsure? Overwhelmed? Don’t worry! The study abroad consulting team at Yashi Shukla Consulting, with over 17 years of experience in education abroad, has the expertise to guide you through this grueling process of applications! Contact us today!