🍦 Daily Digest Aug 23: Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Restricted Early Action

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. School of the Day: University of California - Santa Diego (UCSD)

2. Admission Blueprint: Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Restricted Early Action

3. Friday News Focus: Illinois bans ‘legacy status’ admissions & Johns Hopkins restores test requirement

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
University of California - Santa Diego (UCSD)

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: La Jolla, California, USA
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 33,906
📊 Acceptance Rate: 23.7% (250k applicants, varies by major)
💸 Tuition: $48,630 (out-of-state), $16,056 (in-state)
📅 Admission Options: November 30th (regular decision, UC application)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Artificial Intelligence (#11), Biomedical Engineering (#8), Undergraduate Engineering (#19), US News
📈 Most Popular Majors: Biology (17%), Psychology (8%), Computer Science (7%)

Some Positives

🏫 Unique College System
UC San Diego’s distinctive “college” system divides the university into eight smaller colleges, each with its own philosophy, general education requirements, and student community. This setup allows students to enjoy a smaller, more personalized college experience within a large research university. The colleges—Revelle, Muir, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth—offer unique cultures and academic focuses.

🔬 Strong Research Opportunities
UCSD is a powerhouse for research, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine. With over $1 billion in annual research funding, students have access to cutting-edge labs and can work alongside faculty on groundbreaking projects. The university’s proximity to research institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Salk Institute enhances these opportunities.

🌞 Beautiful Location
Located in La Jolla, UCSD offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and a year-round mild climate. The campus is just minutes away from some of California’s most beautiful beaches, making it an ideal spot for students who enjoy outdoor activities. The surrounding area also offers a vibrant cultural scene, with easy access to San Diego’s downtown.

📚 Interdisciplinary Approach
UCSD encourages an interdisciplinary approach to education, allowing students to take classes across different departments and engage in cross-disciplinary research. This flexibility enables students to tailor their academic experience to their interests, often leading to innovative and creative projects.

🤝 Collaborative Environment
Despite its size, UCSD fosters a collaborative and supportive student environment. Group projects, study groups, and student organizations help build a sense of community, and the university’s college system further enhances this close-knit feel.

🎭 Diverse Extracurriculars
From the vibrant arts scene to numerous student organizations, UCSD offers a wide range of extracurricular activities. Whether you’re interested in joining a research club, performing arts, or student government, there’s something for everyone.

Some Negatives

🏢 Navigating the College System
While the college system is a plus for many students, it can be confusing for newcomers. Each college has its own general education requirements, which may limit your course options and make it challenging to switch colleges once you’ve chosen one. It’s important to carefully research each college before making your selection.

🚶 Large, Spread-Out Campus
UCSD’s campus is expansive, and getting from one end to the other can be time-consuming. This can be particularly challenging for students with back-to-back classes in different parts of the campus. The size of the campus may also contribute to a less cohesive student community compared to smaller universities.

💸 High Cost of Living
Living in La Jolla comes with a hefty price tag. Off-campus housing can be expensive, and the cost of living in the San Diego area is generally high. This can be a financial burden for students, particularly those from out of state.

📈 Competitive Academics
UCSD’s strong academic reputation means that students often face intense competition, particularly in popular majors like computer science and biology. The rigorous academic environment can be overwhelming for some, leading to stress and burnout.

🚗 Car-Dependent
The sprawling nature of San Diego means that having a car can be a necessity. While public transportation is available, it’s not as robust as in other cities, making it harder to get around without a vehicle, especially for off-campus activities or internships.

ADMISSION BLUEPRINT
Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Restricted Early Action

Seniors, by now you hopefully have a good sense of these 3 application options, but in this section, we’ll briefly recap what each of these three are and then share some advice on how to choose whether to ED, REA, or EA.

What is ED, REA, and EA?

Early Decision (ED)

• Binding commitment: If you’re accepted, you must attend that school and withdraw all other college applications.

• Application Deadline: Typically in November.

• Notification: You usually find out if you’ve been accepted by December.

• Benefits: Applying ED can increase your chances of admission since it demonstrates strong interest in the school.

• Caveat: Because it’s binding, you should only apply ED if you’re sure that this is your top-choice school and you can afford to attend without knowing the full financial aid package in advance.

Restricted Early Action (REA)

• Non-binding: You’re not obligated to attend if accepted, and you have until the regular decision deadline (typically May 1) to decide.

• Restrictions: While it’s not binding, REA often comes with restrictions. For example, you might not be able to apply to other private colleges’ early programs, although you can apply to public schools’ early programs or other schools through regular decision. Notable exception: you can apply to private colleges’ early programs if they have specific scholarships/financial aid attached to applying early. For example, USC only offers merit scholarships to students who apply in the early program so you can apply to USC early even if you are applying REA to another school.

• Application Deadline: Usually in early November.

• Notification: Similar to ED, you typically receive your decision by December.

• Benefit: You get an early response without committing, but the restrictions require careful consideration of where else you may want to apply early.

Early Action (EA)

• Non-binding: Like REA, you don’t have to commit if accepted, and you can apply to other schools’ EA programs.

• Application Deadline: Usually early November.

• Notification: Typically around December.

• Benefit: EA allows you to receive an early decision without binding you to attend, providing flexibility and the opportunity to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools.

How to choose between ED, REA, and ED?

Choosing between ED, REA, and ED means having to do at least a little research for each school on your list. In the end though, when deciding between the three options, you should consider three things:

⏰ Timing/Readiness

• ED (Early Decision): Ideal if you’re fully prepared and confident in your application. ED has a strict deadline, so your materials need to be ready well in advance. If you need more time to perfect your essays or gather recommendations, ED might be too rushed.

• REA (Restrictive Early Action): Also has an early deadline, but it’s less binding than ED. This option works well if your application is ready but you want to keep options open. Ensure your application is complete and polished by the REA deadline.

• EA (Early Action): Provides the most flexibility in terms of timing. If you’re not quite ready or need additional time to refine your application, EA allows you to apply early without committing, giving you more time to prepare your materials.

📈 Admission Chances

• ED (Early Decision): Often increases your chances of admission, as it signals strong interest and commitment to the school. Schools may favor ED applicants because they know the student will attend if accepted.

• REA (Restrictive Early Action): While not as advantageous as ED in terms of admission chances, REA still demonstrates interest and commitment. It’s a good option if your top choice uses REA, but be aware of any restrictions.

• EA (Early Action): Provides an opportunity to apply early without a commitment, but it doesn’t offer the same boost as ED. Use EA if you’re applying to multiple schools and want to see early results without committing to any one school.

🤔 Confidence

• ED (Early Decision): Best if you’re absolutely confident that the school is your top choice and you’re ready to commit if accepted. It’s a binding decision, so you should be certain that this school fits your academic, social, and financial needs.

• REA (Restrictive Early Action): Choose this if you’re leaning towards a particular school but still want to explore other options. It’s a good middle ground if you’re confident about your top choice but want the flexibility to consider other schools.

• EA (Early Action): Ideal if you’re unsure about committing to any one school early. EA lets you apply to multiple schools and keep your options open, providing more time to evaluate your choices.

FRIDAY NEWS FOCUS
Illinois bans ‘legacy status’ admissions & Johns Hopkins restores test requirement

Illinois bans ‘legacy status’ college admissions

Illinois has banned legacy admissions at public universities, joining Virginia and Maryland in eliminating this practice. Legacy admissions give an advantage to students whose parents or grandparents attended the same school, often benefiting wealthier families. With the recent ban on affirmative action, critics argue that if colleges can’t consider race to promote diversity, they also shouldn’t favor students based on family connections.

Many believe legacy admissions are unfair because they help already privileged students, while other students face a tougher path to college. As other states like New York and California consider similar bans, the debate highlights a growing push for more equitable admissions processes.

Johns Hopkins restores test requirement

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has decided to reinstate standardized testing, like the SAT or ACT, for admissions starting in fall 2026, reversing the test-optional policy it adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision follows a review that found test scores to be a valuable predictor of academic success and that the test-optional environment might have discouraged students from less advantaged backgrounds from submitting scores that could have helped their applications. JHU joins other schools like Dartmouth in returning to required testing, arguing that standardized tests help identify promising students from diverse backgrounds.

This shift comes as other prestigious institutions, such as MIT and the University of Texas at Austin, also bring back testing requirements. These schools believe that standardized tests, despite concerns, remain a reliable metric for assessing student potential and maintaining competitive rankings. The move signals a broader trend of colleges reverting to pre-pandemic policies, emphasizing the role of test scores in admissions decisions and institutional rankings.

LINK LOUNGE
Key Resources & Scholarships

In the Link Lounge section, you can find links to great resources such as scholarships during the college application process. These links can be really helpful and will be updated every Wednesday, so be sure to check back frequently!

1600.io: A comprehensive resource offering practice tests, video explanations, and personalized study plans designed to help you achieve a perfect SAT score. Ideal for focused, self-paced study.
USC Find Your Counselor: USC website that makes it really easy to find out your point of contact for USC applications
Common App Ready: A series of resources and videos from the Common App team that walk you through each section of the application. Perfect for first-time applicants.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Important testing dates are coming up!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

August SAT: Saturday, August 24
September ACT Registration Deadline: Sunday, August 25
September ACT: Saturday, September 15
University of Texas Early Action Deadline: October 15

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

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