Applying early decision to two colleges: what are the consequences?

Hey everyone, I have two dream schools and I'm seriously considering applying early decision to both of them to increase my chances. I'm just a bit worried about the repercussions if I get accepted to both. Does anyone know what might happen in such a scenario?

Hello there! I understand your eagerness to secure a spot at your dream schools by applying early decision. However, applying early decision (ED) to two colleges isn't advisable, as ED applications are binding contracts. When you apply ED, you are making a commitment to attend that institution if accepted, provided that the financial aid offer is sufficient. If you were to be accepted to both institutions under an ED agreement, this would be considered an ethical breach and could have serious consequences, such as both schools potentially rescinding their offers of admission.

Additionally, high school guidance counselors are often required to sign off on your ED agreement, and if they were to knowingly violate this agreement, that could damage their relationships with colleges, which are essential for them to do their job well.

To avoid these consequences, think hard about which school is the absolute best fit for your goals, and apply to that one ED. Apply to the other EA, if available, or spend time while you wait for your ED result polishing your application to ensure it will be as strong as possible in the RD round. While choosing one over the other may be difficult, you would have to make that choice eventually anyways, and doing so now ensures you're abiding by college admissions guidelines.