College Application 101 -- ED/EA/SCEA

ED == Early Decision, it is binding application, deadline around 11/1 and got notified around 12/15. If you are accepted by the college, you must go to that college. Ex: Dartmouse, Columbia, Cornell.

EA== Early Action, not biding, deadline around 11/1 and got notified around 12/15. You need to make decision around May 1 if you are accected by more than one college: Ex. MIT

SCEA== Single Choice Early Action, not biding, but you can only apply one college early, no limits on regular application, deadline around 11/1 and got notified around 12/15. You need to make decision around May 1 if you are accected by more than one college. Ex: Stanford,Yale.

By the way, both Harvard and Princeton eliminated early action a couple of years ago.