Early Decision and Early Action Dates

Early Decision vs Early Action Deadlines

Early Decision vs Early Action Deadlines

Are you prepared to apply early to college? Do you know the early decision vs early action deadlines?

Below you’ll find calendar and timetable for early decision vs early action. It’s important that you look at the early decision vs early action deadlines for the respective colleges. 

Read more about this topic in: Early Decision and Early Action.

 

Why is it important to apply early to colleges? 

Applying early to colleges is not mandatory, but it does have certain advantages. 

Colleges like to see early applicants, and the statistics show it. Both early decision and early action applicants are accepted at a higher rate than their standard deadline counterparts.

Of course, applying early also has several other benefits for applicants. Early action and early decision applicants are notified of their acceptance status much sooner than standard deadline applicants. Armed with that knowledge sooner rather than later, each applicant can take extra time to pursue other options or get familiar with their new dream school.

Early Action vs Early Decision Deadlines and Timetable

Junior Year

January–May

  • Take the SAT® and/or ACT
  • Visit colleges during spring break

May–June

  • Take SAT Subject Tests if required
  • Work hard and keep up good grades (Note: Colleges only have your transcript through junior year)

Senior Year

September–October

  • Work on and complete applications
  • Get teachers to fill out recommendation forms
  • File early decision or early action applications according to school deadlines and procedures
  • Take SAT or ACT if necessary (Note: October is the last test date that will make scores available in time for early decision and early action programs)
  • CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE online or by using a form

November

  • Continue filing early decision or early action applications according to specific school deadlines
  • Follow up with teacher recommendations
  • Work on regular-decision applications as a backup if you don’t get in early decision or early action
  • File the PROFILE form and any other college-based financial aid forms that may be required of early decision candidates

Related:

Understand College Applications Early Action vs. Early Decision
College Admissions Process
Demystifying College Admissions Jargon
What Are College Application Requirements?
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