Early applications are generally divided into two categories: EA (Early Action) and ED (Early Decision).
Students who choose EA generally have no restrictions on applying to other schools and can wait until May of the following year to decide whether to accept the EA offer.
Students who choose ED, on the other hand, can typically apply early to only one school. Once they receive an offer from that school, they must attend. Many schools offer two rounds of ED applications; if rejected in ED1, students can apply to other institutions in ED2.
Whether it’s EA or ED, the number of early applicants to U.S. universities has been surging in recent years, reaching a new high in 2018.
UVA had about 25,000 early applicants for the Class of 2023, a 17% increase from the previous year, showing that early rounds are becoming increasingly popular.
Brown saw a 21% increase in ED applications last year, partly thanks to improvements in its financial aid program.
Harvard admitted 935 early applicants last year, accounting for more than half of the final 1,653 freshmen.
Rochester had nearly 1,200 ED applicants last year, a 35% increase from the previous year. You can check the deadlines.
Early application numbers are also rising significantly at institutions that do not practice mass admission or are less competitive. At the same time, early admission rates at many universities are declining.
Princeton’s non-binding EA acceptance rate was 13.9% last year, lower than in previous years.
Duke saw a sharp increase in early applicants; for Fall 2019, the number of early applicants rose by 19% over the previous year, and the early admission rate dropped from 21% to 18%.
Northwestern’s early applications increased by 6% last year, and the early admission rate has fallen 15% compared to 10 years ago.
Barnard College saw a 24% increase in early applicants within a year, and the early admission rate is expected to drop by about 6%.
We used to say that EA/ED acceptance rates are generally higher than those for regular decision, partly because the applicant pool is smaller and admissions staff have more time to review early applications.
But now, even the early application pool is fiercely competitive. As the number of early applicants continues to grow, early admission rates are declining.
For many high school students, applying early means they need to start the college application process ahead of time. Some students are actually not ready, either in terms of materials or mentally. But with the high EA/ED acceptance rates, who wouldn’t want to take the risk and apply early?
If you are admitted, congratulations on ending your application journey early. But if you are rejected or deferred in the early round, it means you will face more uncontrollable factors later and bear additional stress from applications or waiting.
Competition for early applications to U.S. universities is increasingly fierce. To stand out in the EA/ED round, applicants need to complete all their exams early, prepare all application materials, and try to ensure their profile is outstanding enough.
If you feel you are not ready yet, you can also choose to participate in regular decision. If you have any doubts about your application, please consult relevant professionals for advice in a timely manner.
