Get a Head Start with an Early Action College Application
Get a fast response, greater financial aid, and more freedom to choose the college that’s just right for you with non-binding early action admissions.
Kickstart a rewarding career with early action applications that include guaranteed grad school admission to some of the Northwest’s most acclaimed professional programs.
Waiting is hard, whether it’s at the bus stop, in line at a coffee shop, or for a response to an important text message.
And it’s even tougher to wait for an admissions decision to a college you’ve been picturing yourself at since the moment you hit submit on your application.
But what if you didn’t have to?
Early action takes the waiting out of college applications, allowing you to get a nonbinding decision from the schools you’re most excited about.
Submitting your application before the early action deadline ensures that you will hear back from colleges quickly, enabling you to spend more of your senior year making memories and less time stressing over admissions.
See how early action can take the anxiety out of applying to the colleges you’re passionate about and start you on the path to discovering your purpose.
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What is Early Action?
Early action is a way of applying to colleges that ensures that you will receive an admissions decision well before the regular application deadline.
An early action application contains the same materials as a regular application, and is submitted to colleges the same way, through the Common App.
The difference is that colleges that accept early action applications require they be submitted early on in the admissions process, usually between August and early January.
This means that those interested in a speedy admissions decision must gather their application materials quickly, which ideally includes a completed FAFSA for increased chances at scholarships.
Early action applications are perfect for those who:
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Are still exploring college options. Because early action windows are open in the first half of the academic year, they allow you to thoroughly research all the schools you’re interested in well before most major deadlines.
This means that you can tour multiple campuses, talk to slew of admissions counselors, and discover student life without feeling constrained by a timeline.
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Need more time to finalize a college decision. Students have until May 1 to reply to early action decisions, so you don’t need to feel pressured to respond right away.
This extra time allows you to reach a college decision on your own terms, while still retaining the benefits of an early action application.
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Want to compare financial aid packages. Just like applying for admission, applying for financial aid early on lets you compare scholarships and other aid to find what suits your needs best.
The best way to understand whether early action is a good fit for your situation is to make a plan for what your senior-year admissions timeline looks like.
Is Early Action Binding?
Early action is non-binding, which means that you do not need to immediately commit or even respond to a college that grants you admission after receiving your application.
While non-binding, early action still demonstrates to a college that you are very interested in attending, but with the benefit of being unrestrictive.
Any offers you receive as a result of your early action application are good for the entirety of the regular admissions window, which means that you can choose where you study at your own pace.
Guaranteed graduate school and four-year degree guarantee programs are still available for those who apply with early action, meaning no compromise when it comes to finding programs that can save you time and money.
What is the Difference Between Early Action and Early Decision?
While they may sound similar, early action and early decision are two very different ways to apply to colleges you’re interested in.
Early action colleges enable you to receive an early admissions decision but do not require you to commit to it until, and if, you choose.
Early decision also enables you to receive an early decision, but requires you to accept it immediately, nullifying all other applications at other universities.
Due to the restrictive nature of early decision admissions, most students use it as a way to show an above average interest in a college, which can, at times, help secure a response.
Pacific is not an early decision institution. Instead, we believe that by favoring early action, students can apply to become a Boxer without the stress that comes from being forced to make a quick decision.
While applying early can often result in a greater financial aid package and flexibility in choosing a college, it is ultimately the strength of your application that matters most.
Can you Apply Early Action to Multiple Schools?
You can!
Early action’s flexibility means that you can apply to multiple schools and receive multiple early action offers without having to make an immediate decision.
This means that students with a complete college application can receive more than one admissions decision even before the early action window closes.
Though the concept of early action is fairly universal, it’s always best to check your school’s specific early action policy to ensure that it allows this flexibility.
How Much Faster is Early Action vs Regular Decision?
Early action is one of the fastest ways to receive an admissions decision, with responses often coming in under one month.
Compare this to a regular deadline decision, which can take over six weeks, depending on when the application is received.
Early action works so quickly because:
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There are less applicants. By applying early you can get ahead of the large amount of applications received before the regular decision deadline.
For limited resources, like scholarship funds, applying early can ensure you get everything you need to be successful during your first year.
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Applicants show demonstrated interest. Your interest in a college comes through especially strong with an early application, and that interest is considered when making an admissions decision.
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You don’t have to wait for test scores or updated grades. Test score retakes and updated transcripts can delay your application and cause you to miss the early application window.
By submitting your prepared materials early you eliminate the wait, allowing other aspects of your Common App — like essays and personal experiences — to shine.
Visit Pacific and start seeing yourself on campus during Oregon Private College Week! Talk with admissions counselors and get your admissions questions answered.