RD, EA, or ED? How to Choose the Right Application Plan for You

Applying to college can be stressful and confusing under the best of circumstances. And when you add in another layer of decisions you need to make — like deciding whether to apply for Regular Decision (RD), Early Action (EA), or Early Decision (ED) — the process can feel downright daunting. Which gives you the best admissions advantage? Is your top choice school really your top choice school? How hard will it be to write essays and prepare applications for those early deadlines?

If just the thought of understanding — let alone answering — these questions is ratcheting up your stress level, you're not alone. Let’s break these concepts down and explore the pros and cons of each application plan.

What Is Regular Decision?

Regular Decision (RD) is the typical college admissions process: Students submit their applications by a certain deadline (which can be as early as Nov. 15 and as late as mid-March) and receive an answer from the school in the spring (usually late March or early April).

Most colleges and universities in the United States have RD deadlines. Some schools, however, use rolling admissions, where schools review applications as they’re received instead of waiting for a specific deadline. These schools, like Arizona State and the University of Alabama, accept and process applications throughout the year.

✅ Pros of Applying Regular Decision

• More Time to Improve Your Application — With this application plan, you get extra months to boost your GPA, strengthen your extracurriculars, improve your SAT or ACT scores, and perfect your essays. If your first-semester senior grades will help, RD lets you include them.
• More Time to Finalize Your List — No rush! You can research schools more thoroughly, visit campuses, and really think about where you want to apply.
• No Binding Commitment — Unlike Early Decision (ED), RD gives you the freedom to compare all your offers, including financial aid packages, before making a final decision.
• Less Stress in the Fall — Early applicants are scrambling to meet deadlines in October and November. With RD, you have until January, giving you breathing room.
• Opportunity to Apply Early Elsewhere — You can take advantage of Early Action (EA) at some schools while still keeping your RD options open elsewhere.

❌ Cons of Applying Regular Decision

• More Competition — Because many top students apply EA or ED, the RD pool can be more competitive, especially at selective schools. You’re up against more applicants fighting for fewer spots.
• Less Time to Decide — RD decisions often come out in March or April, giving you only a few weeks to weigh your options before the May 1 commitment deadline. That can feel like a lot of pressure.
• Potentially Less Aid — Some schools distribute financial aid and merit scholarships on a rolling basis, meaning more money may be available for early applicants. If you wait for the RD application plan, the pot could be smaller.
• Miss Out on Rolling Admissions — Some schools fill a significant portion of their class through earlier rounds, so by the time RD rolls around, space may be limited.
• No Early Senior Year Relief — If you apply early and get in, you can relax a little during senior year. If you apply RD, you’re waiting months longer for closure (and that stress can drag on).

What Is Early Action?

Early Action (EA) is the admissions process where students can apply to colleges early (generally by mid-November, depending on the school and program) and receive a non-binding decision early (often in December or January). This can be helpful for students who want to know their options early on in the college process but don’t want the binding commitment that comes with Early Decision Applications.

✅ Pros of Applying Early Action

1. Earlier Decisions = Less Stress — You’ll hear back from schools in December or January, giving you peace of mind while others are still waiting.
2. Non-Binding Flexibility — Unlike Early Decision, the EA application plan lets you apply early without committing, so you can compare offers and financial aid packages.
3. Demonstrates Interest — Some schools consider demonstrated interest in admissions decisions, and applying EA shows you’re serious.
4. Better Acceptance Rates (Sometimes) — Some colleges admit a higher percentage of EA applicants compared to RD applicants because they haven’t filled as many spots yet. So if you have a top-choice school, you might consider submitting an EA application (if available).
5. More Time to Plan — Getting in early gives you extra time to visit campuses, consider financial aid, and make an informed decision.
6. Less Competition for Certain Programs — Some schools have limited spots for specific majors, and EA applicants may have an advantage before those fill up.
7. More Scholarship Opportunities — Some schools prioritize early applicants for merit aid, so applying EA might increase your chances of getting scholarships.

❌ Cons of Applying Early Action

1. Less Time to Improve Your Application — Because EA deadlines are usually in November, you have less time to boost your GPA, strengthen extracurriculars, or retake standardized tests.
2. Pressure to Submit Strong Essays Sooner — You’ll need polished essays and recommendations earlier for an EA application plan, which can be stressful if you’re juggling schoolwork and activities.
3. Some Schools Restrict Other Early Applications — Schools with Restrictive Early Action (REA) or Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA) limit where else you can apply early, so you have to strategize.
4. No Guaranteed Advantage in Admissions — Unlike ED, which can offer a bigger admissions boost, EA doesn’t always provide the same edge (especially at super-selective schools).
5. Financial Aid Uncertainty — Because EA isn’t binding, you won’t get your full financial aid package as early as ED applicants, and RD applicants may still receive better aid at some schools.
6. Might Get Deferred — If you’re not accepted outright, your application may be deferred to the RD pool, meaning another few months of waiting and the (potential) need to write a Letter of Continued Interest.

What Is Early Decision?

Early Decision (ED) is the college admissions process in which students apply to a college (often in October and November) and receive a decision early on in the process. If the student is accepted under the ED (or EDII) application plan, they are required to attend the college and withdraw any other college applications they have out. This can benefit students who know they want to attend a particular school and want to get the process over with.

Before we go deeper, it’s important to note that ED is a binding agreement between the student and the college. (Students, parents, and the high school sign an ED contract, so this is serious stuff.) While the agreement isn’t legally binding, if students back out for reasons other than financial aid, your ED school could block future applicants from your high schools and notify other colleges of your decision, potentially resulting in them rescinding their offers.

There are exceptions, of course, to this binding agreement if the student receives a financial aid package that's different from what the Net Price Calculator indicated, making it difficult or impossible for families to afford the cost of attendance.

ED is a good option for students who are sure that a particular college is their first choice and are willing to commit to attending if accepted.

✅ Pros of Applying Early Decision

1. Higher Acceptance Rates — Many colleges admit a higher percentage of ED applicants compared to Regular Decision (RD), because ED applicants demonstrate a commitment to the school.
2. Early Notification = Less Stress — You’ll get your decision by December, giving you peace of mind while others are still applying.
3. Shows Commitment to the School — Colleges love applicants who are fully committed. Applying ED signals that you’re serious about attending, which can sometimes help borderline applicants.
4. No Need to Apply to Tons of Schools — If you get in, you’re done! No stressing over more applications or essays or waiting for multiple decisions.
5. Possible Scholarship & Aid Advantages — Some schools prioritize ED applicants for merit scholarships or specific financial aid packages.
6. More Focus on Senior Year — If accepted, you can enjoy the rest of senior year without the stress of applications hanging over your head.

❌ Cons of Applying Early Decision

1. Binding Commitment — If you’re accepted, you must attend (except in rare financial aid cases), which means no comparing offers from other schools.
2. Less Time to Improve Your Application — Because ED deadlines are usually in November, you won’t have extra time to boost your GPA, retake standardized tests, or strengthen your activities.
3. Limited Financial Aid Flexibility — You have to accept the financial aid package the school offers, without the chance to compare aid from other colleges.
4. Increased Pressure to Choose the “Right” School — If you’re unsure about where you want to go, committing to one school so early can feel risky.
5. Risk of Deferral or Rejection — If you’re not admitted, you might be deferred to the RD pool, meaning you’re back in the waiting game — or outright rejected, leaving you scrambling to finalize other applications.
6. Can’t Apply ED Elsewhere — If you have second thoughts about your ED choice later, you’re stuck unless you get rejected or deferred.

So, which application plan should you choose? It depends on your financial situation, interest in a school, and application strength. If you're dead-set on a particular college and you're willing to commit to attending if accepted, ED might be right for you. If you want to compare your options and make a decision in the spring, RD could be the way to go. And if you want to get an early decision but still keep your options open, EA might be the best fit.

Whatever you ultimately choose, it's important to carefully consider each option. Don't be afraid to talk to your parents, guidance counselor, or other trusted adults about which option might be best — especially when it comes to finances. And remember, no matter which type of acceptance you choose, the most important thing is to do your best on your college applications and show the admissions committees who you are and why you'd be a great fit for their college. Good luck!