<p>trishk, although you could google it, SCEA is Single-Choice Early Action. It’s a restrictive (i.e. you can only apply to one school with this program) but non-binding (i.e. you are not obliged to matriculate if you are admitted; you have until the RD decision date to respond to the offer of admission) early application program, offered by some schools wishing to allow for more flexibility than Early Decision programs (which are binding) permit. (Applicants accepted under EA programs are not committed and have more time to compare financial aid packages and decide on school-fit). Yale and Stanford have had such programs for years, and after a couple of years of single-deadline admissions cycles, Harvard and Princeton are re-introducing SCEA for applications to the Class of 2016 as well. (UChicago has a non-restrictive Early Action program).
The deadline for applications under SCEA is usually around November 1st, and schools respond by mid-December. Admits must reply by May 1st.</p>