Five common deadline types, five different prep windows. ED hits November 1. ED II hits January 1. RD hits January 1 too, but means something completely different. Here's how each one works and what it means for your timeline.
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For the 2026–2027 cycle. Confirm specific dates on each school's admissions page.
| Type | Deadline | Decision | Binding? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (ED) | Nov 1 or Nov 15, 2026 | Mid-December 2026 | Yes |
| Early Action (EA) | Nov 1 or Nov 15, 2026 | Mid-December 2026 | No |
| Restrictive Early Action (REA) | Nov 1, 2026 | Mid-December 2026 | No (with restrictions) |
| Early Decision 2 (ED II) | Jan 1 or Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-February 2027 | Yes |
| Regular Decision (RD) | Jan 1, 5, or 15, 2027 | Late March / early April 2027 | No |
| Rolling admissions | Open ~Sep 2026 to spring 2027 | Within 4–8 weeks of submission | No |
ED is a contract. You apply by November 1, get a decision by mid-December, and if admitted you must enroll and withdraw every other application. Schools see ED as a commitment signal, and many have noticeably higher admit rates for ED applicants. The trade-off is real: you commit before seeing your full financial aid picture, and you forfeit comparison shopping.
EA gives you the early review without the commitment. Apply by November 1, get a decision in December, and decide by May 1 like everyone else. The statistical advantage is smaller than ED but still real at many schools. EA is the right move when you want early certainty but aren't sure which school is the top choice — or want to compare aid offers.
REA is non-binding but limits where else you can apply early. Schools that use it (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Notre Dame) typically prevent you from applying ED anywhere or EA to other private schools. You can still apply RD anywhere and EA to public universities. Read each school's REA rules carefully — they vary.
ED II is a binding application with a January deadline. It exists for students who got denied or deferred at their original ED school but still want a binding commitment to a different school. Decisions arrive in mid-February. Schools offering ED II include NYU, Johns Hopkins, Babson, American University, Bates, and many others.
The largest application bucket and the latest of the fixed-deadline types. RD is non-binding, decisions arrive in late March or early April, and the May 1 commitment date applies. Most students apply primarily through RD, treating ED or EA as one or two strategic applications among the broader RD list.
Rolling means there's no fixed deadline — applications are reviewed as they arrive until the class fills. Most rolling windows open around September and run roughly six months. "No deadline" doesn't mean "no urgency." Earlier applications get more spots, more scholarship dollars, and better housing. Apply early in the rolling window when possible.
The deadline date is the wrong target. The real target is when you need to start so the deadline isn't a panic. These are reasonable starting points, working backward:
For specific 2026–2027 cycle dates, see the full deadline calendar. For the broader system on tracking all of these, return to the pillar.
1. ED and EA aren't the same just because the deadline is the same. ED binds you. EA doesn't. Submitting ED when you meant EA is a real problem — schools enforce the commitment.
2. ED II isn't a backup for ED I. ED II is its own binding commitment to a different school. You can't ED II at the same school where you applied ED I.
3. "Rolling" doesn't mean "endless." Rolling-admissions schools fill seats until they're full. By February, scholarship and housing options shrink dramatically.
November 1 at most schools, with a smaller group at November 15. Both fall well before Regular Decision, and admissions decisions usually arrive by December 15. ED is binding — if admitted, you must enroll and withdraw all other applications.
Most Early Action deadlines line up with Early Decision: November 1 or November 15. EA is non-binding, so accepted applicants can wait until May 1 to commit. Some schools offer Restrictive Early Action (REA), which limits where else you can apply early but is still non-binding.
Early Decision 2 deadlines are January 1 or January 15, the same dates as Regular Decision at most schools. ED 2 is still binding — admitted applicants must enroll. Decisions typically arrive by February 15. Schools offering ED 2 include NYU, Johns Hopkins, Babson, American, and Bates.
January 1 is the most common Regular Decision deadline, followed by January 5 and January 15. A second wave of schools sets Regular Decision at February 1 or February 15. RD decisions arrive in March or early April, with a May 1 commitment date.
Rolling admissions schools have no fixed deadline — they review applications as they arrive and admit students until the class fills. Most rolling cycles open around September and run roughly six months. Earlier is still better: more spots are open, scholarships are more available, and housing options are wider.
Early Decision raises admit rates more at most schools because it shows commitment, but you must enroll if accepted. Early Action keeps your options open at the cost of a smaller statistical boost. ED only makes sense if you have a clear top choice and are confident the financial aid offer will work.
ED on November 1. ED II on January 1. RD on the same day, totally different stakes. Set a free reminder for each one — email lands weeks ahead, with follow-ups until you submit.
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