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Application timing guide
Early application options can improve admission odds — but Early Decision is a binding commitment that prevents you from comparing financial aid offers. For most Arizona students, Early Action at UA (non-binding) is the right choice. Here's what every option actually means.
Early Decision is wrong for most aid-dependent students
If you need financial aid to afford college, ED is risky. You commit before seeing your aid offer — which means you might be obligated to enroll somewhere you can't actually afford. Early Action (non-binding) gives you the same early decision with the ability to compare aid packages. Only consider ED if the school has a strong aid guarantee (like a need-blind school) or you are confident the cost is manageable at any aid level.
All 5 application timing types — compared
Regular Decision (RD)
The standard path. Apply January 1, hear back March–April, compare all financial aid offers before committing by May 1. Most students should use this path.
Advantages
Compare aid packages across all schools
More time to improve grades and test scores
No binding commitment
Drawbacks
Slightly lower admission odds at some schools than EA/ED
Apply later — smaller advantage
Early Action (EA)
Apply early, hear back early, keep your options open. Non-binding — you can apply EA to multiple schools and still wait to compare aid offers before committing by May 1.
Advantages
Know early (reduces senior-year stress)
Non-binding — compare aid offers
Slight admission advantage at many schools
Can apply EA to multiple schools
Drawbacks
Less time to submit strongest application
Senior year grades not included
Restrictive Early Action (REA) / Single-Choice EA
Non-binding like EA, but you cannot apply EA/ED elsewhere simultaneously. Used by Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown. You can still apply Regular Decision to other schools.
Advantages
Non-binding — can still compare aid
Strong signal to the school
Decision in December
Drawbacks
Cannot apply EA/ED to other schools while REA is pending
Rules vary by school — read carefully
Early Decision I (EDI)
Binding commitment. If admitted, you must withdraw all other applications and enroll — even before seeing your aid package. Significant admission advantage at many schools.
Advantages
Meaningful admission advantage (10-30% higher odds at some schools)
Decision in December
Strong signal of commitment
Drawbacks
BINDING — you must enroll if admitted
Cannot compare aid offers
Wrong choice for aid-dependent students unless aid is guaranteed
Early Decision II (EDII)
Same binding commitment as EDI, but a later deadline. Used if you were rejected ED1 from your first choice, or if you need more time to strengthen your application.
Advantages
Second chance at binding-decision advantage
More time than EDI to improve grades
Decision in February
Drawbacks
BINDING — same commitments as EDI
Cannot compare aid offers
Still wrong for aid-dependent students
EA/ED at Arizona's public universities
University of Arizona (UA)
Early Action (non-binding)UA uses non-binding EA. No binding ED. Apply EA to maximize scholarship consideration — priority scholarship deadline is also November 1.
Arizona State University (ASU)
No formal EA/ED — rolling admissionsASU has no EA/ED designation. The December 1 priority deadline triggers the best merit scholarship consideration. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
No formal EA/ED — rolling admissionsNAU has no EA/ED. Rolling admissions with a February 1 priority deadline for the Presidential Scholarship.
Application timing guide
Priority vs EA vs RD — which deadline maximizes your admission and scholarship odds at each school.
Full application timeline
Month-by-month junior/senior roadmap including EA windows, scholarship deadlines, and FAFSA.
Scholarship deadline calendar
EA deadlines often align with scholarship priority deadlines — apply early for both.
Award letter comparison
If you apply EA to multiple schools, use this to compare aid packages when offers arrive in December.