Early Decision and Early Action – Counselors (2024)

FAQs

Early Decision and Early Action – Counselors? ›

Early decision plans are binding: A student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. Early action plans are nonbinding: Students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.

Early decision plans are binding: A student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. Early action plans are nonbinding: Students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.

There are very few disadvantages to applying early. The main drawback to early action is that only a few institutions, including Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale, offer early action. Selective colleges can safely provide this option because they know you will probably accept their offer even if it's not binding.

In short, ED2 is a second chance at an Early Decision application, whether because you were not admitted to your first-choice college ED1, or because external factors prevented you from applying ED1 (a sports schedule, poor first quarter grades, etc.).

If accepted, you will attend that school. You can only apply to one school as ED. You can apply to other schools EA, but if you were to be accepted at your ED school, you must withdraw all other submitted applications and enroll in your ED school.

Data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) shows that schools with early decision options do have higher admission rates for early decision applicants when compared to all applicants (61% vs.

Typically, early admission rates are higher than regular or overall admission rates for most schools. At some schools, the admission rate can be substantially better for early admission candidates.

Nothing, If You Back Out With Good Reason

Yes, early decision is binding. However, if you have a good reason for backing out of an early decision offer from a college, the school will often let you leave without penalty.

Is applying early decision right for you? Most experts agree that ED offers higher odds of getting accepted into a school. But applying early decision also prevents you from comparing multiple financial aid packages.

Early action and early decision allow you to apply earlier than regular decision. Applicants receive admission decisions sooner, usually starting in mid-December. You can typically apply to multiple schools under an early action plan. Early decision, however, is a binding agreement between you and one college.

Do any Ivy Leagues have ED 2? ›

Although none of the Ivy League schools offer ED II, the list contains other top tier national universities and liberal arts colleges such as the University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Tufts University, Swarthmore College, Wellesley College, Pomona College, Bowdoin College, and more.

For the most part, yes! If you are not accepted to your ED I school, you are permitted to apply to another school in the ED II round. You're obviously not required to apply to an ED II school, but if one of your other top-choice schools has an ED II option, it's definitely something to think about.

The greatest advantage for students applying ED II is that it can improve their odds of admission. Applying ED or ED II won't help you get into a school that you're not qualified to attend, but it can put you ahead of the hundreds – or thousands – of regular decision applicants with similar credentials.

Additionally, it would be difficult to research so many schools. Still, you also should avoid applying to too few colleges. In general, it's a good idea to apply to a minimum of five schools. Submitting more applications increases the likelihood of an acceptance and the odds of receiving financial aid offers.

How many colleges can you apply to early action? In most cases, you can apply early action to as many schools as you want. Early action is a non-binding application, and you're free to turn down any school you apply early action to and get accepted by.

You can apply early decision to only 1 college. If the college accepts you and offers enough financial aid, you must go to that college. That's why these plans are referred to as “binding.”

This means that the average student is more likely to get in when they apply early decision than when the same student applies regular decision to the same school. On average, applying ED is going to result in a 1.6x or a 60% increase in your chances of admission to super selective schools.

But what happens if you've applied to college as an Early Decision or Early Action applicant? Most colleges will still want to be sent grades from your first quarter of senior year. However, their decision to accept or reject you into their institution will have already been made based on your grades from junior year.

“Students who apply via early decision are often wealthier than those who apply via regular deadlines, and they are more likely to be admitted, especially at the most selective institutions.”

Admission odds

Generally speaking, early action programs do not significantly increase your child's odds of getting into colleges, especially at highly selective schools. They simply allow your child to find out sooner whether or not they've gotten in.

Can you switch from early action to early decision? ›

If you want to switch from non-binding Early Action or Regular Decision to Early Decision 2, you typically need to email the college's main admissions email account or update the admissions portal. The student, parent, and counselor will also need to complete and submit the Early Decision agreement form.

Can You Apply to Multiple Schools Using Early Decision? No. Since Early Decision is binding, you cannot, in good conscience, apply to more than one school using this method for college applications. If you do and are caught, it could result in both schools withdrawing their offers of acceptance.

Certainly! From the day you accept your acceptance offer to the day of your graduation, you can choose to no longer attend the university you're currently at. This is even true for those who accept an early decision acceptance offer, which are usually binding.

Early Action (Non-Restrictive)

It allows you to apply early to as many schools as you want, and you're under no obligation to attend a school if you're accepted for their incoming class.

Forfeit your deposit.

Many colleges and universities in the United States and elsewhere require you to put down a deposit towards your first semester's tuition. If you decline admission to the school, that money may not be returned. Check your admissions paperwork to see if the deposit is non-refundable.

Early Decision and Early Action applications are often due in November. Almost all colleges will let you know their decision by December 15th. That said, some colleges may not let you know until February if you applied under Early Action. If you were wait listed, it may be a few weeks or months before you hear back.

If you applied Early Decision, you will likely hear back in December or January. It really depends upon the school's application deadline and when they have committed to releasing their Early Decision admissions decisions. Typically the decisions are sent about 4-6 weeks or so after the deadline.

Cornell University

Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. It was established in 1865 and is situated in Ithaca, New York. Out of 49,114 candidates, Cornell accepted 5,330, for an admission percentage of around 10.9%.

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College ranks as the second easiest Ivy League school to get into.

What is the most laid back Ivy League school? ›

Brown. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown is more commonly known as the laid-back Ivy League.

However, between the two early decision programs, admissions chances are usually higher for ED1 than for ED2. It's important to keep in mind that even though the acceptance rate for early decision 2 is generally higher than for RD, having an application that meets what the institution looks for is still a must.

This tends to result in a higher acceptance rate for ED2 than a college's Early Action, Regular Decision, and sometimes even its Early Decision 1 program. The odds are in a student's favor in an ED2 pool IF they are objectively competitive for the college.

Most Early Applicants Got Deferred

Within the Early Decision pool of non-recruited applicants: 65.85% got deferred. 19.76% were rejected. Only 14.39% were admitted.

Students applying ED II also have an opportunity to submit strong grades earned during their senior year, whereas ED 1 applicants are usually evaluated on the basis of their academic performance through junior year only.

Across all highly selective colleges, about 10% of deferred candidates ultimately earn admission to the school that kicked the can on their candidacies. While this percentage can vary yearly and from school to school, it's a relatively consistent general benchmark.

One note: If a student changes their mind before ED admissions decisions are made and opts to change to regular decision, that is allowed, says Kopp Weingarten.

Likely letters usually come out in early to mid-February, with some outliers coming in March or even in April. Some schools also send them out to students who applied for early action or early decision admission, so those letters could come out as early as December.

Time crunch for other applications: Most colleges do not notify ED and EA applicants of admission until December 15. Because of the usual deadlines for applications, this means that if a student is rejected by the ED college, there are only two weeks left to send in other applications.

In most cases, colleges are unable to learn about other schools to which you have applied. It is also strongly discouraged that colleges inquire about the applicants' choice of other colleges to which they have applied.

What are the drawbacks of early decision? ›

DISADVANTAGES OF EARLY DECISION

If you're accepted, you're obliged to attend. You may discover a more suitable college later. The early deadline may force you to submit a less polished application, unless you begin your application well ahead of time.

Applying early lets your favorite school (or schools) know that you are serious about attending. Schools track how many applicants accept their offers of admission and release those numbers to the public. A school looks good when a high percentage of accepted applicants chose to attend.

Applying Early Decision or Early Action can lead to one of three possible results: acceptance, deferral or denial. What is this? Early decision is binding. But if it's a deferral or a denial, there's no need to apply to the same school via regular decision.

Does Early Application Increase Your Chance of Admission? Data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) shows that schools with early decision options do have higher admission rates for early decision applicants when compared to all applicants (61% vs. 49%, respectively).

For many students, one of the main appeals of applying early is receiving an admission decision earlier, typically by December or January. The admission rates in the early application pool also tend to be higher, even though the pool is typically more competitive than the regular round.

(For example, if you were rejected Early Action/Early Decision, you can't reapply Regular Decision for that same admissions cycle.) So, if you get rejected from a school and decide to take a gap year, you can apply again as a freshman applicant the next year. However, this may not be your best option.

If you want to switch from non-binding Early Action or Regular Decision to Early Decision 2, you typically need to email the college's main admissions email account or update the admissions portal. The student, parent, and counselor will also need to complete and submit the Early Decision agreement form.

You may apply to Harvard under either our Restrictive Early Action or our Regular Decision program, both of which allow you to compare admission and financial aid offers from other institutions and to wait until May 1 to make a final college choice.

Early action applications are accepted before Nov. 1, regular decision applications are accepted until Feb. 1, and rolling admissions applications are accepted afterward until space is filled. Keep in mind the longer you wait, the more competitive the admissions process becomes.

Nothing, If You Back Out With Good Reason

Yes, early decision is binding. However, if you have a good reason for backing out of an early decision offer from a college, the school will often let you leave without penalty. A common reason for being released from the offer is due to finances.

Can you back out of early decision after acceptance? ›

Admitted students who can't afford the cost of attendance can often back out of their early decision contracts without penalty. Alternatively, you may be able to negotiate for more aid by contacting the school's financial aid office and informing them of your situation.

The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.

Early Decision The College Board-approved Early Decision Plan, which is offered by Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania, requires a prior commitment to matriculate.

Among the institutions with the lowest acceptance rate, colleges included, UCLA is the only public university with the lowest acceptance rate while the college with the lowest acceptance rate is Dartmouth College. The rest of the U.S. higher educational institutions with low acceptance rates are privately-owned.

Early action deadlines usually fall at the same time as early decision. The obvious advantage of early action over early decision is the opportunity it gives you to apply to, and ultimately compare financial aid packages from several schools.

Generally speaking, early action programs do not significantly increase your child's odds of getting into colleges, especially at highly selective schools. They simply allow your child to find out sooner whether or not they've gotten in.

In most cases, you can apply early action to as many schools as you want. Early action is a non-binding application, and you're free to turn down any school you apply early action to and get accepted by. However, a small number of schools have restrictive early action policies.