Breaking Down Early Decision

Hey, peeps! I keep seeing 'early decision' mentioned, but I'm still feeling a little confused about exactly how it works. Can anyone help simplify it for me?

Hey there! Happy to help you understand Early Decision (ED). Early Decision is a binding college application process where students apply to one school early, typically with a deadline in November. If the student is accepted, they are committed to attend that college and must withdraw all other applications.

Here's a breakdown of Early Decision:

1. Binding agreement: The student agrees to enroll if accepted and must withdraw applications from other colleges. This ensures that the college can maintain a high yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who enroll).

2. Single choice: Students are allowed to apply ED to just one college, although they can apply elsewhere through non-binding Early Action (EA) or Regular Decision (RD) processes.

3. Early deadline: ED application deadlines typically fall in November, with decisions released in December. RD deadlines are usually in January, with decisions coming out in the spring.

4. Potential advantage: Applying ED can demonstrate a high level of interest in a college, which may increase chances of acceptance. Note that this advantage varies depending on the school and the strength of the applicant pool.

5. Financial aid considerations: Students should use a college's net price calculator to estimate their financial aid package before applying ED. If accepted and the financial aid package is insufficient, students can appeal the offer or, as a last resort, break the ED agreement due to financial constraints.

Keep in mind that Early Decision is different from Early Action, which is non-binding. So, only apply ED if you are absolutely sure that the college is your top choice and you are willing to commit to attending if accepted. Good luck with your applications!