Admissions Blog Posts
Why I Applied Early Action
We’re in the thick of college application season, and that means you might be trying to figure out by which application deadline you should submit your application.
![](https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/admission-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/2020/12/fu-bound-1024x1024.jpg)
Here’s what you need to know:
Furman has four application deadlines: Early Decision 1, Early Action, Early Decision 2, and Regular Decision.
But what does all of that mean?
Early decision 1 and 2 are binding, meaning if you apply to Furman as an early decision applicant, if you are accepted, you will attend Furman. It’s like you saying, “I know 100% that this is the school I want to go to.”
Early decision 1 applicants usually receive their application status sooner than all other applicants and are the first people admitted to the incoming class. Early decision 2 is still binding, but the deadline is a little bit later. This can be a good option for people who know Furman is their number one choice, but weren’t sure about that as early on as early decision 1 applicants.
Early action is not a binding decision, but you submit your application to Furman sooner and receive an admission notification sooner.
Regular decision is not a binding decision either, but you don’t have to submit your application until January and you may not receive an admission notification until March.
So why did I choose to apply Early Action?
I applied to Furman early action because I wanted to have as much time to make a decision as possible… and I was really impatient with finding out where I would have the opportunity to go to school.
After attending admissions events including Mosaic’s “Furman Diversity Connection” where I was able to stay with a multicultural student overnight and really experience what it might be like to be at Furman, I really fell in love with the school.
![](https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/admission-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/2020/12/katie-n-asha-furman-768x1024.jpg)
But, I wasn’t sure if Furman was my top choice and I knew choosing a college would come down to whichever school gave me the best financial aid package, so I applied EA so I could still explore other possibilities.
Luckily, all the stars aligned and I found out around the winter holidays that I was accepted to Furman. I also found out that I would be receiving a good scholarship if I were to attend. I had already begun falling in love with the idea of Furman, so knowing it would be a good financial decision too really sealed the deal.
![](https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/admission-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/2020/12/committed-to-fu.jpg)
Early action allowed me to have time to learn more about Furman, talk to current students about their experiences, and to really imagine myself at Furman and make sure I was totally comfortable in my decision.
After deciding to commit, it made me feel super relieved to know where I was going to school the next year. It helped with my senioritis because I knew I had something to continue working for and to look forward to.
Any advice for prospective students going through the application process right now?
If I could go back and give my senior-self advice during the application process it would be to not rule out any of your options.
![](https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/admission-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/2020/12/fu-jacket-1024x1024.jpg)
I never expected myself to end up loving Furman, but here I am! I was so caught up in trying to go to schools that I thought I was “supposed to” go to, that I didn’t actually spend a lot of time thinking explicitly about what I wanted from a college experience and a university itself.
Focusing on what YOU want out of your college experience and not what other students are looking for is the best way to make sure you go to a school that’s the best fit for you.
And finally, remember that you’re going to end up exactly where you’re meant to be. Even if it’s not your top choice or a place you ever imagined yourself being– everything happens for a reason and you will end up somewhere that’s just right for you!
-Asha