What is Early Action? What's the difference between Early Action and Early Decision? Or between Early Action and Regular Decision? This blog post is here to explain it all and to help you find the best admissions deadline for you.
If you are working on applying to colleges this fall, you may have come across Early Action as a deadline option for submitting your applications. UNH offers both an Early Action and a Regular Decision deadline for undergraduate admission.
Applying Early Action has a number of benefits, including allowing you to take more time to get to know the campus community you’ll call home and setting you on track for academic and financial aid success.
Hamilton Smith Hall at UNH
When is UNH’s Early Action deadline?
UNH's Early Action deadline this year is November 15.
What is Early Action?
Put simply, Early Action is the no-stress version of Early Decision. Applying Early Action at UNH means you’ll receive a non-binding admissions decision by the end of January. All applicants still have until May 1 to enroll.
Great Hall at Paul College
Early Action vs. Early Decision: what's the difference?
Applying Early Decision usually requires you to commit to a school if you are accepted. On the other hand, applying Early Action means you are not bound to attend the school if you are accepted. With Early Action, you receive an early admissions decision and it is up to you to make your best college choice!
Early Action vs. Regular Decision: what's the difference?
UNH offers two application deadlines: Early Action and Regular Decision. Early Action applicants receive their admissions decision by the end of January and Regular Decision applicants receive theirs by the end of March.
Both Early Action and Regular Decision applicants have until May 1 to enroll and both enjoy automatic consideration for GPA-based merit scholarships at UNH.
UNH students relaxing on campus
Why should I apply Early Action?
There are so many reasons to apply Early Action. Here are a few of our favorite:
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Get to know UNH student life
If you'd like even more time to get to know the UNH community and ensure you're making the best college choice for you, you are encouraged to apply Early Action. Applying Early Action gives you the chance to take more time to attend admitted student events, visit campus and learn more about majors and programs.
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Academic opportunities
By applying Early Action, you’ll receive priority consideration for UNH’s “competitive majors,” high-demand, space-limited programs like nursing, exercise science and occupational therapy.
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Life-changing scholarships
Early Action is also the deadline for some of our most life-changing scholarship programs, including the Hamel Scholars Program and the CEPS Industry Scholarship, which offer students both serious tuition dollars and strong academic community.
Is there a downside to applying Early Action?
If you are able to prepare your application materials on time, there's no downside to applying Early Action! (Explore our application tips and application journey blogs to stay on track.) Unlike Early Decision, your admissions decision for Early Action is non-binding, meaning you can still explore other options after receiving your decision.
UNH Hamel Scholars
The Early Action deadline is a great choice for students who are looking to have more time to find out why UNH is the best fit for them. Early Action can also help jumpstart your most successful academic journey at UNH and make that journey more financially affordable for you.
We know that not all students are on the same timeline. That's why UNH also offers the Regular Decision 2/1 deadline. As you move forward with your college application process, keep this blog post in mind to find the application deadline that works for you!
First-year student orientation
