Private universities offer admission plans with similar names but very different obligations. Choosing the wrong one can cost a family the chance, as early as December, to compare offers of admission and financial aid. The definitions below come from the official Common App guidance, which is based on the definitions of college admission plans published by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
Two Broad Categories
Common App divides admission plans into two broad categories:
Nonrestrictive plans: Students are not restricted from applying to other institutions and have until May 1 to consider their options and confirm enrollment.
Restrictive plans: Students are responsible for determining and abiding by the restrictions that apply.
Regular Decision (RD), Rolling Admission (RA), and Early Action (EA) are nonrestrictive; Early Decision (ED) and Restrictive Early Action (REA) are restrictive.
Official Definitions of the Four Plans
| Plan | Binding | Official definition |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Decision | No | Students submit an application by a specified date and receive a decision within a clearly stated period of time |
| Rolling Admission | No | The institution reviews applications as they are received and releases decisions throughout the admission cycle |
| Early Action | No | Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date |
| Early Decision | Yes | Students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they will enroll. Application and decision deadlines are both earlier |
| Restrictive Early Action | No | Students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision early, but may be restricted from applying ED, EA, or REA to other institutions; if admitted, students may confirm enrollment by May 1 |
For first-year applicants entering in the fall, the plans available through Common App include two forms of Early Decision (ED I and ED II), two forms of Early Action (EA I and EA II), Restrictive Early Action, Rolling Admission, Regular Decision, and Early Admission for students in grade 11. For transfer applicants, Regular Decision and Rolling Admission are recommended.
Three Points to Settle Before Choosing
First, the Early Decision commitment is real. By definition, an admitted student will enroll. This means the family must accept that institution’s financial aid offer in December, without the ability to compare it with offers from other institutions. Families who are uncertain about finances should choose this plan with caution.
Second, Restrictive Early Action limits are set by each institution, not inferred by the student. Institutions differ on which other schools a student may apply to at the same time: some permit Early Action applications to public universities, and others do not. The exact wording on the target institution’s admission page is the authority.
Third, May 1 is the common confirmation deadline for nonrestrictive plans. This date determines how long the window for comparing offers will be.
The University of California has no early round; all applicants share the November 30 deadline. The full timeline is in University of California Application Timeline.
EDUBUS Recommendation
In the view of EDUBUS advisors, choosing an early application plan is fundamentally a ranking decision, not a way to raise the odds of admission. Early Decision is appropriate only when one institution ranks first for both academic fit and family finances, and the family does not need to compare financial aid offers. In other cases, Early Action and Restrictive Early Action offer a path to an early result without giving up the freedom to choose. For matching school lists with admission plans, see College Admissions Planning.
Sources
- Common App: Admission plan definitions (based on NACAC definitions) (accessed September 27, 2026)
- After UC Decisions: Four Dates from March to JulyUC decisions arrive in March, the SIR is due by May 1, final transcripts by July 1 and AP scores by July 15. What each date requires and what missing it costs.
- UC Application Timeline: From August 1 to May 1The UC application for fall 2027 opens August 1, closes November 30, releases decisions in March, and requires a reply by May 1. Seven dates Irvine seniors need to plan.
- School Spotlight: Sage Hill SchoolSage Hill School serves grades 7 to 12 and asks for ISEE or SSAT scores. This profile covers the facts, the application checklist and the 2026-27 dates.
- SSAT Prep Guide for Private School ApplicantsThe 2026-27 testing year offers six standard SSAT dates with fixed deadlines. This guide covers registration, testing formats, score reporting and a six-month countdown.
