Early Action and Early Decision Deadlines

Of the 360 schools that Compass tracks, a little over 75% offer some form of Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED). Both can have an impact on students planning to test in the fall of 12th grade.

EARLY ACTION VERSUS EARLY DECISION

Early Action is non-binding, meaning that an admitted student can still decide not to attend. Early Decision, on the other hand, is binding. Students applying Early Decision agree to enroll if accepted and offered an adequate financial aid package.

While some schools allow students to apply to multiple Early Action / Decision programs, most will require a student who is accepted Early Decision to withdraw applications from other colleges. Highly selective institutions—for example, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Notre Dame, Texas A&M (Engineering), and Yale—have restrictive policies that limit a student to one early application.

Further complicating matters is the presence of 1 and 2 as labels for different early application windows. Early 1 is usually in November with Early 2 in December, or in the case of Early Decision 2, as late as January. Generally, colleges will notify Early 1 students by the end of December and Early 2 as late as February. Both allow ample time for decision making before the May 1 decision deadline.

WHAT DO EARLY APPLICATIONS MEAN FOR TESTING?

Your counselor can help you determine whether applying Early Action or Early Decision at your top college is right for you. However, if you’re considering applying early, you will want to make sure that you have a complete set of scores that shows you at your best. We recommend most students plan early and have one or two scores ready by the end of junior year. Students who have waited until 12th Grade to take any test should not delay. In many cases, the September ACT and October SAT are the last test dates that offer reliable delivery of scores before the earliest of early deadlines. The July ACT (not available in NY) and August SAT have also become popular dates for tying up testing.

It’s always a good idea to check with the admission office of the college of your choice for specific policies. Some admission offices will let you submit test scores after the deadline, so long as the office receives them before your application is reviewed. One college told us that if you call and say your scores are on their way, they’ll put your application at the bottom of the pile. Of course, it’s probably best not to depend on an exception like this, and who wants to be on the bottom of the pile? If you get your testing finished early, you’ll be well positioned for early applications.

EARLY ACTION AND DECISION DEADLINES

Please note that this list is not meant to be exhaustive and schools reserve the right to change these deadlines at any time; please check the individual websites for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

* = Schools that are test optional
** = Schools that are test flexible
^ = Schools with Restrictive or Single Choice Early Action
† = Schools with a “Priority Deadline”