The Rise of Early Action

One of the most startling trends I’ve seen in the last 15 years as a professional independent college counselor is the interest in applying early to college.

When I first started my practice, it was pretty rare for a student to apply for either Early Action or Early Decision. Most students did what I did when I applied to college – they submitted their applications late in the fall semester of the senior year. Then, like everyone else, they monitored their mailbox for a hopefully large envelope announcing their admission to their dream college or university.

Well, those days seem to be long gone. Early Action – which does not force you to go to a school if you apply early and are, hopefully, admitted – seems like a win-win situation for most students. If they get in, they go into winter break knowing that they have an admission letter from (usually) a very good college. If they don’t get in under Early Action, many students figure it would have been the same result anyway if they applied under the regular deadline (usually in early January).
I understand the attraction, but remember some drawbacks here:

• You need to be organized. The deadlines for Early Action usually fall in early November. Many students are nowhere near done with their Common Application by this date, let alone any supplemental applications.
• You might get complacent. If you get in under Early Action, there is a temptation to treat your remaining applications with less seriousness. You know you’re going somewhere for college next year, and any other acceptances seem like “icing on the cake.” This is ridiculous reasoning, I know, but I have seen it.
• Early Action does not always give you a statistical advantage in getting in. Indeed, some schools like Georgetown even make it clear on their website that there is absolutely no difference in acceptance rate between Early Action applicants and general pool applicants.

What should you do?

If you are organized and have a dream school, go for it! But don’t rush the application just to meet that EA November 1 deadline. Quality will always yield greater advantages over being quick. Be good, not just fast!