Early Decision vs. Early Action: Should Your Student Apply Early? | College Admissions Explained

Is your student thinking about applying early to college? Wondering whether Early Decision (ED), Early Decision 2 (ED2), Early Action (EA), or Restrictive Early Action (REA) is the right move for your student? In this video, I break down the pros, cons, and critical fine print of each early admissions option—so you can make a confident, informed decision as a family.

I’m Dr. Andrew Hoffman, a former highly selective admissions officer & director, and today we’re diving deep into what applying early really means—from higher acceptance rates to financial aid risks and the ethics behind the Early Decision agreement.

📌 What you’ll learn:
✅ The key differences between ED, ED2, EA, and REA
✅ How applying early affects admissions chances
✅ The Early Decision agreement explained (and what happens if you break it)
✅ When early plans are a smart strategy—and when they’re not
✅ What ED2 means and how it fits into your college strategy

And if you want an expert/former highly selective college admissions director (me) to review your application before submitting it, sign up here: https://www.askdrhoffman.com/applicat...

Have questions about college admissions? Let me know in the comments!

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