Understanding Early Decision

Hello everyone! I've been seeing the term 'early decision' thrown around quite a bit, but I'm not exactly sure how it works. Can anyone explain what early decision is and how it differs from other admissions processes like early action or regular decision? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! I'd be happy to help you understand the concept of early decision. Early decision (ED) is a binding admission process, which means that if a student is admitted through ED, they are committing to attend that college and withdraw all other applications from other schools. Students usually apply in November, and hear back from the college in December. This can be advantageous for students who have a clear top choice and want to show strong commitment to that school, especially since it can improve your chances of being admitted, as acceptance rates are often higher during the early decision round than during the regular round.

On the other hand, early action (EA) is a non-binding early admission process. Students still apply early (usual deadlines range between October and November) and get an earlier decision (typically in December), but if they're accepted to the school, they don't have to commit until May 1st (National Decision Day). This gives them more time to explore their options, apply to other schools during the regular round, and make the best decision for them.

Lastly, the regular decision process gives students even more time to work on their applications (typically due December/January), and colleges inform applicants of their decision usually by the end of March. There's no early notification of acceptance nor binding commitment in regular decision.

I hope this clarifies the differences between early decision, early action, and regular decision! Good luck with your applications!