Anonymous
12/17/2025 12:48
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
For any student with the grades / scores / package to apply to a REA school, they know what they are doing.
They have been tracking this for at least a year as they figure out strategy. It is not an accident.
They have been tracking this for at least a year as they figure out strategy. It is not an accident.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 12:42
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
I definitely think REA is confusing and counselors sometimes have 100+ seniors and can’t keep track of everything
Anonymous
12/17/2025 12:39
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Anonymous wrote:Respectfully, assuming it’s an unintentional mistake, it’s the student’s responsibility to read the instructions carefully and fully and understand the nuances/restrictions.
As soon as the mistake has been discovered, notify the school they want less to amend/withdraw the application and be honest about it. Anything less is simply dishonest.
This.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 12:38
Subject: Re:SCEA/REA and ED mistake
I thought you just can't apply ED to a private school with REA so ED to a school like UVA would be ok
Anonymous
12/17/2025 12:30
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Respectfully, assuming it’s an unintentional mistake, it’s the student’s responsibility to read the instructions carefully and fully and understand the nuances/restrictions.
As soon as the mistake has been discovered, notify the school they want less to amend/withdraw the application and be honest about it. Anything less is simply dishonest.
As soon as the mistake has been discovered, notify the school they want less to amend/withdraw the application and be honest about it. Anything less is simply dishonest.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 12:01
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Anonymous wrote:“You are wrong -- what you are describing is SINGLE CHOICE early action (HYPS). Restricted Early Action just means that you cannot apply anywhere with a binding (ED) application.”
Nope. I definitely am not wrong. This is explained on Harvard’s website and in Common App. It’s extremely clear and direct.
I am looking directly at Harvard’s admissions page right now. It says REA means you may NOT apply early action to any other private college, restrictive or not. It is VERY clear. You may apply Early Action to a public or international college.
https://college.harvard.edu/resources/faq
You’ve both just given a perfect illustration of why the whole thing is confusing, and students need to read each school’s definitions and requirements carefully.
OP is talking about Georgetown. They make it clear that although they use the term Early Action, students may not apply early decision anywhere else, but they MAY apply early action to other schools. Georgetown’s EA essentially functions as an ED.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 11:35
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
“You are wrong -- what you are describing is SINGLE CHOICE early action (HYPS). Restricted Early Action just means that you cannot apply anywhere with a binding (ED) application.”
Nope. I definitely am not wrong. This is explained on Harvard’s website and in Common App. It’s extremely clear and direct.
I am looking directly at Harvard’s admissions page right now. It says REA means you may NOT apply early action to any other private college, restrictive or not. It is VERY clear. You may apply Early Action to a public or international college.
https://college.harvard.edu/resources/faq
Nope. I definitely am not wrong. This is explained on Harvard’s website and in Common App. It’s extremely clear and direct.
I am looking directly at Harvard’s admissions page right now. It says REA means you may NOT apply early action to any other private college, restrictive or not. It is VERY clear. You may apply Early Action to a public or international college.
https://college.harvard.edu/resources/faq
Anonymous
12/17/2025 11:21
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Anonymous wrote:REA means no early action applications at any private colleges. You can submit an application before the deadline but it must be submitted as a “regular decision” application. (Some do this because the financial/merit aid deadline is earlier.) But you cannot submit to another private school’s early action pool if you REA. That’s the “restrictive” part.
The sad part is that the students who do this are potentially hurting ALL the other applicants from their high school who played by the rules.
You are wrong -- what you are describing is SINGLE CHOICE early action (HYPS). Restricted Early Action just means that you cannot apply anywhere with a binding (ED) application.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 10:55
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to send apps for REA and an ED school in error?
I have an acquaintance who claims their kid accidentally sent in both REA and ED. The dad said it was an honest mistake because kid thought REA was same as EA. This seems very hard to believe to me. How does a high school counselor allow this to happen?
Different high schools have different processes. And Georgetown's website is a mess. I could see it happening by accident, though I'm not sure how the kid would suddenly realize the error. Was he admitted? If the kid didn't get into Georgetown, the issue is now moot.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 10:54
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Anonymous wrote:REA usually does not require parents to sign. But I would think high school would know since they send transcript. Honestly, if an honest middle it should be fine. Have him tell his counselor.
I could see a kid being confused about REA. My own kid was but in the other direction. They didn't know a certain school with REA would have let them apply to state schools too. So this kid didn't end up applying REA. IDK if REA requires parents and counselors to sign off like ED does.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 10:33
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Students who applied according to the rules are upset bc they are competing for spots against peers from their high school (or region) and the kids who cheat at this ruin the high school program’s rep at that college for every other applicant. This is not “ mind your own business” — it affects everyone else. No man is an island.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 10:30
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Directly from Harvard: “ If you are applying to Harvard under Restrictive Early Action, you may not apply to any other private institution under an Early Decision, Early Action, or Restrictive Early Action plan, or to a binding early program at a public university.
You are welcome to apply early to any public university, military academy, or university outside of the United States under a non-binding program.”
So the main thing is to recognize that you cannot ED elsewhere and you can only apply early action to public schools. It is very clear.
You are welcome to apply early to any public university, military academy, or university outside of the United States under a non-binding program.”
So the main thing is to recognize that you cannot ED elsewhere and you can only apply early action to public schools. It is very clear.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 10:02
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Anonymous wrote:Their son totally 100% did this somehow and was freaking out at the last minute about it. Makes me think it was intentional
Why is he freaking out now if it was intentional? And why is it any of your business anyway?
Anonymous
12/17/2025 09:50
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
REA means no early action applications at any private colleges. You can submit an application before the deadline but it must be submitted as a “regular decision” application. (Some do this because the financial/merit aid deadline is earlier.) But you cannot submit to another private school’s early action pool if you REA. That’s the “restrictive” part.
The sad part is that the students who do this are potentially hurting ALL the other applicants from their high school who played by the rules.
The sad part is that the students who do this are potentially hurting ALL the other applicants from their high school who played by the rules.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 09:49
Subject: SCEA/REA and ED mistake
Georgetown is clear that if you are applying EA - you are not applying ED somewhere else.
Their assumption is that people are ethical when going through the process.
Their assumption is that people are ethical when going through the process.