What is the difference between Early Decision and Early Action?

Question

Priscilla Han · Accepted Answer

Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) are two ways to apply to US universities ahead of the regular deadline. ED is binding — you apply early to one school, and if admitted you must enrol and withdraw your other applications. EA is non-binding — you apply early and get an early answer, but you stay free to compare offers and decide by the regular 1 May deadline. Some schools offer Restrictive (Single-Choice) Early Action: you may not apply early to other private universities, but the offer is still non-binding, so you keep the right to compare and decide later. ED, by contrast, locks you in. The honest warning: ED can be a trap. By committing before you see your acceptance, you give up the ability to compare financial-aid packages — so for any family that needs to weigh cost, it can be an expensive promise. The statistical 'admit-rate boost' from applying ED is also often overstated. ED/EA are mostly a US concept; the UK's UCAS works differently — the early October deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, and medicine is just an earlier date, not a binding commitment.