A Guide to Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admissions
EA, ED, RD & Rolling—What’s the Difference? (Spoiler alert: Big Difference!)
If you’ve started your college application journey, you’ve likely come across a whirlwind of acronyms—EA, ED, RD, and more. Understanding the different types of admissions is critical to building a smart college list, meeting deadlines, and maximizing your chances of admission. Here’s a breakdown of what each term means and how they differ:
Rolling Admission (First Come, First Served)
With rolling admission, schools evaluate applications as they come in—so it’s in your best interest to apply early. Many public universities offer this option.
Deadline: Varies (as early as August, as late as June!)
Decision: Usually within 4–8 weeks
✅ Pros:
Quick turnaround on decisions
Flexible timeline
Often more relaxed deadlines
⚠️ Cons:
Spaces can fill up early
Scholarship deadlines are usually fixed and may come earlier than you think
Early Decision (Admitted = Committed)
Early Decision is binding—if you’re admitted, you’re committed to attend. And you can only ED to one school (though there is an ED 2 cycle for some schools if you do not get into your first choice). So, choose carefully where you apply Early Decision. Make sure you really want to go there.
NOTE: ED REQUIRES STRATEGY!
Before you decide where to ED, consider if it will really increase your chance of admission. For example, at Villanova the acceptance rate for Early Decision is 49% versus 23% for the Regular Decision pool. So, if you want to go to Villanova – apply ED.
On the other hand, at University of Michigan acceptance rate for ED is 18% versus 13% for Regular Decision. So, really make sure that it’s “worth” using you ED at Michigan, it might be better used a school where it is more advantageous, and then you can just apply to Michigan at the Regular Decision deadline.
Deadline: Typically early to mid-November
Decision: Mid-December
Pro: Higher acceptance rates at some schools
Con: You must withdraw all other applications if accepted
Early Action (Early, No Commitment)
EA allows you to apply early and receive an early response—without binding commitment. You can still apply to other schools and compare offers.
Deadline: Typically early to mid-November
Decision: December to January (unless deferred/waitlisted)
Pros: Get a decision early. No obligation to enroll. May relieve stress sooner.
Cons: Still requires early preparation. With more and more students applying Early Action, schools are deferring thousands of applications to the Regular Decision pool
Note: Some highly selective schools have Restrictive or Single-Choice EA, limiting where else you can apply early. Always read the fine print.
Regular Decision
This is the standard admission plan. It gives you more time to refine your application and consider schools to which you want to apply.
Deadline: Typically January 1 – January 15
Decision: March – April
✅ Pros:
More time to prepare applications
Consider all options equally
⚠️ Cons:
Larger applicant pool = higher competition
Results come later, which can be stressful
🧠 Final Thoughts: What Should You Do?
Choosing how and when to apply depends on:
How certain you are about #1 choice.
Your readiness (testing, essays, recs)
Financial aid needs
School preferences
Application volume (are you applying to many schools?)
If you’re ready - apply to Rolling Admissions schools asap.
If you're applying to highly selective schools and you’re ready early, ED or EA could offer a real advantage.
If you need more time to strengthen your profile or compare aid packages, RD.
📩 Need help figuring out your best path? At Emblem College Counseling, we help students build a personalized admissions strategy that fits their goals and timeline. Let’s map out a smart application plan—together.