| Early decision and early action are two very | | | | cost you to go to school there. Used car salesmen |
| misunderstood policies used by colleges to boost their | | | | can only dream of a sales tactic that is so |
| enrollments as early as possible. | | | | underhanded. |
| These policies make good business sense for the | | | | Never under any circumstances agree to early |
| colleges, but do they make sense for you? | | | | decision. If you do, you will lose all hope of |
| Unequivocally, NO... and maybe. | | | | negotiating; and you will lose any flexibility of |
| Early decision (ED for short) is a legally binding | | | | accepting a better offer from another college, even |
| agreement between a college and the student. The | | | | if it was thousands of dollars more. |
| student can apply to as many colleges as he or she | | | | Early action is a horse of a different color. Early |
| desires, but they can only apply to one college under | | | | action operates on essentially the same timetable as |
| the early decision criteria. Students apply under early | | | | early decision, but it does not have the negative |
| decision hoping to have an admission decision from | | | | effects. There is no legally binding agreement |
| the college of their choice as early as possible. If the | | | | between the student and school under early action |
| student is not admitted to the college under the ED | | | | criteria. However, you need to review the individual |
| criteria, that students application most often is not | | | | school's early action criteria because some schools |
| reconsidered during the regular admission process. | | | | may withdrawal their offers for admission if action is |
| However, if the student is admitted to the college | | | | not taken. Early action notifies students early in the |
| under the early decision criteria, then you have got a | | | | admissions process whether they have been |
| really big problem. | | | | accepted or not. If they are not accepted under |
| Any student that is admitted to a college under the | | | | early action, sometimes their applications are moved |
| early decision rules, must go to that college no | | | | to the normal admissions process. |
| matter what kind of offer they receive from any | | | | In many cases, early action does not have negative |
| other college. In fact, most colleges utilizing this | | | | impacts, but you should always read the fine print. |
| process require students to immediately withdrawal | | | | The bottom line is never put yourself in a position |
| their applications to all other colleges if they are | | | | that you have to make a decision to attend a college |
| admitted. This is well before you have seen any kind | | | | before you know what it will cost. Otherwise, you |
| of financial package from any school. Under early | | | | are truly buying the proverbial "pig in a poke". Always |
| decision, you are required to commit to one and only | | | | wait for the financial award offers before committing |
| one college before you have any idea what it will | | | | to any college. |