<p>In the 2012 Catalog it says: "Students who complete two full courses in the APEA Program are exclusively eligible to apply to attend the university as degree students via the Early Action program. Under Early Action, students apply in September and receive a decision from the Admission Office in October. Those who are accepted can wait until the following April to decide whether to attend Carnegie Mellon. While successful participation in the APEA Program does not guarantee admission, students in the APEA Program have historically a higher acceptance rate to the university.</p>