EP9: Early Decision vs. Early Action: The Strategy, Deadlines & Mistakes That Matter

Early Decision is a commitment. It is not a hack.In Episode 9 of The Drop In, Lisa and Josh break down the alphabet soup of college admissions: Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), Restrictive Early Action (REA), and Regular Decision (RD). What does each application plan actually mean? Is Early Decision really an admissions advantage? And how do you know if applying ED is the right strategy for your student?We dig into why higher Early Decision acceptance rates do not automatically mean ED will make an uncompetitive applicant competitive, the difference between ED1 and ED2, and the two questions every student should ask before making a binding commitment.Then we tackle the other thing that can derail even a great college application: organization.From building a college application spreadsheet and tracking financial aid deadlines to working backward from your earliest deadline, submitting before 11:58 p.m., checking that your application actually went through, and keeping track of all those passwords, we share the systems that can make application season a whole lot less stressful.Because the spreadsheet is not beneath you. The spreadsheet is your best friend.In this episode:Early Decision vs. Early ActionWhat makes Early Decision bindingWhether applying ED increases your chances of admissionRestrictive Early Action and Regular DecisionED1 vs. ED2Early Decision and financial aidCollege application deadlinesHow to organize your college applicationsFAFSA and CSS Profile deadlinesWhy students should submit applications earlyHow to confirm your college application was submittedWant to dig deeper? Read our blog post for a closer look at how these options work and what families should consider before choosing an early application strategy.Need help deciding where and when to apply, building your college list and timeline, or managing the application process? Visit decisiondrop.com to learn more about working with Lisa and Josh at Decision Drop.