Definition: Students applying to Early Action programs (which typically have November deadlines) find out from schools in December whether they've been admitted. Early Action admits still have until the regular May deadline to let the school know whether they plan to attend.

Early Action is similar to Early Decision, with one important distinction--Early Decision applicants are required to attend a college if admitted there via an Early Decision Program.

While students get an advantage from applying Early Decision, the benefit from applying Early Action is significantly smaller.