The admissions process is vastly different for all students. Some may have little to no idea which school they will end up choosing and end up applying to a wide variety of options across the country. Others have had their dream school in mind for years and plan to apply there along with only a handful of backup safety schools. For the latter pool of students, restrictive early action may be a great option.

In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide explaining the ins and outs of restrictive early action to help you decide whether that admissions path could be right for you.

What Is Restrictive Early Action?

Colleges offer numerous programs for students to choose from during the admissions process. Students who know relatively early where they want to submit some of their applications may be interested in early application programs. There are three main types of early application programs: early action, early decision, and restrictive early action.

Early action programs allow students to apply for admission at a particular school and receive their admissions decision much sooner than usual. Students who apply via early action will usually submit their applications by November 1 of their senior year. In December, the school will notify them whether or not they have been accepted. You can apply via early action at as many schools as you want with no restrictions as long as you can get your applications ready and sent in before the deadline.

Early decision programs are a little different. You can only apply for early decision at one school. If you are accepted, you are bound to attend that school. If not, you can apply at other schools as you normally would after receiving the decision. Students should only apply via early decision if they know for sure they want to attend a specific school or program.

Restrictive early action, also known as single choice early action, is a mix of early action and early decision. When you apply via restrictive early action, you can only apply for early action at one school. It is a binding agreement that you will not apply to any other school’s early action deadlines. This lets the college you have chosen know that they are your top school. As with other early action programs, you will receive your admissions decision early. However, unlike early decision programs, you are not bound to attend that school even if you are accepted.

It’s worth noting that you can still apply early to public universities while bound by restrictive early action because they are much cheaper to attend than private universities, and they may take longer to reach an admissions decision.

Who Should Apply Via Restrictive Early Action?

Restrictive early action is not the best choice for every student, but it can be an excellent course of action for some. Students applying via restrictive early action should have the following:

• A distinct first choice when it comes to the college or program they wish to attend.
• A transcript that does not need support from their senior year grades.
• A strong essay and letters of recommendation.
• A diverse set of extracurricular activities that showcase their character.
• A challenging curriculum between freshman and junior year.

If you did not perform as well as you would have liked during your junior year, need extra time preparing your application materials, or feel that colleges should see your senior year grades to understand your full profile, then you might not want to apply via restrictive early action.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Restrictive Early Action

We cannot say definitively whether you should or should not apply via restrictive early action because every student’s profile is unique. Let’s break down some of the important pros and cons to consider before you make your decision.

The benefits of applying via restrictive early action are:

• Higher acceptance rates compared to early action and regular decision.
• More time to review financial aid offers before making a decision.
• More freedom than early decision programs.

The drawbacks of applying via restrictive early action are:

• Less freedom to apply for early action at other schools.
• Not able to showcase your senior year grades, activities, or accomplishments.
• Lower acceptance rates compared to early decision programs.

Examples of Schools That Offer Restrictive Early Action

Not all schools offer restrictive early action. You will most likely find restrictive early action as an option at prestigious schools with generally low acceptance rates. Here are a few examples of schools that will allow you to apply via restrictive early action.

Harvard University

You must submit your restrictive early action application to Harvard University by November 1, after which you will receive an admissions decision in mid-December.

Under Harvard’s restrictive early action program, you can:

• Apply early to any public, foreign, or military university in a non-binding program.
• Wait until the May 1 deadline to make your decision.
• Review offers from other institutions before making your final decision.

You cannot:

• Apply early to any private universities with binding or non-binding programs.
• Apply to binding programs in general.

Princeton University

You must submit your single choice early action application to Princeton University by November 1, after which you will receive an admissions decision in December.

Under Princeton’s single choice early action program, you can:

• Apply early to any public, foreign, or military university in a non-binding program.
• Wait until the May 1 deadline to make your decision.
• Review offers from other institutions before making your final decision.

You cannot:

• Apply early to any private universities with binding or non-binding programs.
• Apply to binding programs in general.

Stanford University

You must submit your restrictive early action application to Stanford University by November 1, after which you will most likely receive an admissions decision in December.

Under Stanford’s restrictive early action program, you can:

• Apply early to any public, foreign, or military university in a non-binding program.
• Wait until the May 1 deadline to make your decision.
• Review offers from other institutions before making your final decision.
• Apply for financial aid by the November 15 priority deadline and receive a financial aid award by December 15.

You cannot:

• Apply early to any private universities with binding or non-binding programs.
• Apply to binding programs in general.

University of Notre Dame

You must submit your restrictive early action application to the University of Notre Dame by November 1, after which you will receive an admissions decision in December.

Under Notre Dame’s restrictive early action program, you can:

• Apply early to any private, public, foreign, or military university in a non-binding program.
• Wait until the May 1 deadline to make your decision.
• Review offers from other institutions before making your final decision.

You cannot:

• Apply to binding programs in general.

Yale University

You must submit your single choice early action application to Yale University by November 1, after which you will receive an admissions decision in December.

Under Yale’s single choice early action program, you can:

• Apply early to any public, foreign, or military university in a non-binding program.
• Apply to any college’s rolling admission program.
• Wait until the May 1 deadline to make your decision.
• Review offers from other institutions before making your final decision.

You cannot:

• Apply early to any private universities with binding or non-binding programs.
• Apply to binding programs in general.

Is your dream school on the list? If so, restrictive early action may be a path you want to consider. Before you make your decision, talk to your guidance counsellor or college admissions consultant to learn more about how you can prepare to take the next steps toward the future you want.