2011-08-15, 12:47 AM
"Early" (in general) means that you apply to a college earlier. You get to know if you got accepted to that college or not earlier (like, 1-2 months or something). Early decision means that if you've been accepted into a college, you have to go there. Early action means that even if you have been accepted, you don't need to go there. You can wait until results from other colleges come in January before you make your decision.