AJ Poplin, an Assistant Director of Admissions at American University, hosted a virtual presentation about applying early decision (ED) and early action (EA) to AU. The presentation covered the differences between ED and EA application types, with ED being a binding commitment to attend if admitted while EA offers more flexibility to apply to multiple schools. AJ explained that AU's ED admit rate typically ranges from 80-85% and outlined the advantages of early decision including earlier notification, priority registration for classes, and the opportunity to take up to two free online AU courses during spring of senior year. The presentation detailed application requirements including the Common App, transcript submission, test-optional policy, and ways to make applications stand out through essays, teacher recommendations, and activity reports. AJ also discussed special academic programs available to early applicants, including 3-year scholar programs and honors programs, with December 1st being the priority deadline for these special applications. The session concluded with a Q&A where students asked about GPA recalculation processes, sports recruiting considerations, and how single low grades are evaluated within the holistic admissions approach.