UNH Parents Guide to Early Action
Helping your student apply to college can involve complicated decisions and high stakes. Our Parents Guide blog series is here to help you guide your student to make the right decisions throughout the college application process.
If your student is applying to schools this fall, you may be wondering: Should my student apply Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision? This blog post will explain what Early Action means and teach you how to guide your student toward finding the right application deadline for them.
UNH President Elizabeth Chilton greeting new UNH families
What is Early Action? Is Early Action binding?
At UNH, applying Early Action means applying earlier to maximize consideration for scholarships and academic opportunities. If your student applies Early Action they will receive a non-binding admissions decision by the end of January. They will still have until May 1 to enroll. Applying Early Action is easy. UNH is test-optional and your student can apply through the Common Application.
What application deadlines does UNH offer?
UNH offers two undergraduate application deadlines for first-year students: Early Action and Regular Decision.
UNH parents at parent and family orientation
When is UNH’s Early Action deadline?
Your student has until Nov. 15 to apply Early Action to UNH.
Early Action vs. Early Decision: What’s the difference?
Applying Early Decision usually means your student will have to commit to a school if they are accepted. On the other hand, applying Early Action means your student is not bound to attend the school if they are accepted. With Early Action, your student will receive an early admissions decision, giving them extra time to make the right college choice without the pressure of committing to the school.
UNH family on Parent and Family Weekend
Early Action vs. Regular Decision: What’s the difference?
Early Action is an earlier, non-binding application deadline with a number of benefits, while Regular Decision is a great option for students who need more time to submit their UNH application. UNH's Early Action deadline is Nov. 15, and our Regular Decision deadline is Feb. 1. Both application deadlines are non-binding. 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 family on Parent and Family Weekend
How can I help my student choose the right application deadline?
Understand the application timeline
Sit down with your student and look at our application timeline blog, which lists month-by-month what your student needs to do to apply to UNH.
Strategize with your student
Take a look at our application tips blog with your student to learn some of our most important tips for applying to college and to start strategizing on how to approach the process. Be sure to consider how much time your student has to apply for different deadlines.
Learn about the benefits of Early Action
Read about the benefits of applying Early Action below and talk to your student about their priorities to determine if applying Early Action is right for them.
UNH family moving into college
What are the benefits of applying Early Action?
Get to know UNH student life
Applying Early Action will give your student more time to get to know the UNH community and to ensure they are making the best college choice before submitting their enrollment deposit. There will be more time to attend admitted student events, visit campus, and learn more about majors and programs.
Maximize academic opportunities
Applying Early Action means your student will receive priority consideration for UNH’s “competitive majors,” high-demand, space-limited programs like nursing, exercise science, and occupational therapy. Applying Early Action is also strongly recommended for consideration for our Hamel Honors and Scholars College.
Be considered for 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. These programs offer students both serious tuition dollars and a strong academic community.
