Unlike the regular admissions process, EA usually requires students to submit an application by mid-October or early November of their senior year of high school instead of January 1.
The program was abolished in 2007 amid concerns that the early decision application pool lacked racial and socioeconomic diversity.
Virginia has also decided to add an ED plan to its EA offering beginning with the Class of 2024.
The rules or policies for Early Action vary widely across schools and it is important for the applicant to be aware of any restrictions.
In that sense, SCEA or REA is comparable to ED in having a significantly higher admit rate.
The disadvantage is that candidates who apply this way tend to be much stronger and rejection is more likely than in the regular admission pool.