When applying to college, it can be tough to keep up with all the lingo. One of the most confusing terms is Restrictive Early Action, also known as Single Choice Early Action.

Restrictive Early Action is a compromise between Early Decision and Early Action submission plans. When a student submits their application to a school, they can choose to do so by an early deadline. This allows that student to receive an admission decision in either December or January. In other words, students who wish to apply early will receive their decisions back before the final deadline for most schools. A student may do so by selecting Early Action, Early Decision, or Restrictive Early Action as their submission plan. There are, however, major differences between each plan.

Early Decision is a binding contract. This means if a student is accepted to the school they have applied to Early Decision, then they must attend that school and withdraw all other applications. A student may only select one school to apply to with this contract, and both the student’s counselor and a parent/guardian must sign the contract.

Early Action is non-binding; a student may be accepted to a school they have applied to in the Early Action round, but they are not required to commit to it.

Restrictive Early Action is more confusing. This is a non-binding agreement, meaning if a student is accepted in the Restrictive Early Action round, they are not required to attend. However, if a student decides to submit to a school in this round, they may not apply to any other school with an Early Decision contract, and they may not apply to any other private university in the United States either Early Action. Students may apply to public schools, or state schools, in the early action round. They may also apply to universities abroad.

Some schools that offer Restrictive Early Action are: Harvard, Cal Tech, and Stanford. Georgetown University also offers a version of this which allows students to apply Early Action to private universities, but not Early Decision.

Overwhelmed?

We can help. Trying to keep all the deadlines, rules, restrictions, and information straight can make you feel like you’re in over your head. That’s why Aristotle Circle offers personalized college counseling packages. We’ll help you formulate a plan, manage due dates, and craft a compelling application. Reach out to us today at info@aristotlecircle.com.