Key takeaways:
- Early decision is an application process that is “binding” – accepted students are expected to attend.
- Students who apply under early decision hear back from the college faster and could have a higher chance of acceptance.
- However, applicants have less time to complete their applications and can’t compare financial aid offers.
Early decision (ED) allows students to apply to their dream college sooner, potentially get their college applications out of the way faster, and hear back about the school’s decision in a matter of weeks. However, it’s binding. Accepted ED students are expected to enroll the following fall and backing out can be difficult. Before you apply, consider these pros and cons of early decision applications.
What is early decision?
Flickr user Michael Coghlan
Early decision is a binding early college application process. If you’re accepted, you’re expected to submit your deposit and attend the school the following fall. It’s not legally binding so you can technically choose to not attend at any time for any reason, but there may be consequences. However, you can back out of attending with little to no consequences if you have financial, health, or other hardships.
Most ED applications are due on November 1 or 15, though some are due as early as October 1 or 15. You’ll typically hear back from the school in mid-December and could be accepted, rejected, or deferred to regular decision.
Some colleges also offer ED II, which is a second cycle of early decision typically due on January 1 or 15.
Pros of early decision applications
These are a few of the benefits that make early decision worth it:
- You may finish your applications early. If you’re accepted to your ED school, you might only have had to do a single application. You’ll be all done by November 15 and can focus more on enjoying your senior year.
- You receive an answer faster. You’ll usually have an answer in hand by the end of the year (unless you were waitlisted or deferred). As a result, you won’t have to stress and compare your options over the spring to make a potentially tough decision on where to attend.
- You could have a higher chance of acceptance. Colleges tend to have higher acceptance rates for ED (and early action) applicants. Applying under ED also shows you have a strong desire to attend, which many schools value.
Cons of early decision applications
However, there are several downsides of ED you should keep in mind before you submit your application:
It’s binding and backing out can lead to consequences
An ED application is considered “binding,” but not legally so. You can decide not to attend for any reason. However, unless you’re backing out for approved reasons – such as financial or health hardships – withdrawing after you’ve been accepted can lead to other issues.
Here are a few you could face:
- You may lose out on any money you’ve already paid to the school, such as a deposit.
- You likely won’t be accepted to the college in the future.
- Other schools may be notified of your decision and may reject your application, too.
- Your high school guidance office could choose not to submit your transcripts to colleges once you’ve received the ED acceptance letter.
If you can’t attend your ED school next fall for reasons outside of your control but would still like to enroll in the future, ask for a deferment to the following year. Many colleges will work with you.
You have to submit your application sooner
While submitting your ED application sooner means you get an answer faster, it also means you have to complete all of the application’s components faster. You’ll need to ask for letters of recommendation from teachers and mentors and begin writing your essay and personal statements earlier.
While regular decision applicants can often take a final standardized test in December, ED students need to take their final ACT/SAT by October (or even September for earlier deadlines) for it to be considered. You have less time to study and improve your score.
If you don’t feel you’ve done your best with your application, essay, and ACT/SAT, it might be best to wait and apply under regular decision instead. Submitting a subpar application will only hurt your admission chances.
You can’t compare financial aid offers
Since you’re attending your ED school if you’re accepted, you can’t really compare financial aid offers to determine the best bang for your buck. You could miss out on an excellent package that covers more of your cost of attendance at another school. One example: your ED school’s package included loans – you’ll never know if you could have gotten a free ride at another college.
Should you apply under ED?
You should only apply through early decision if you are absolutely positive you want to attend that school. Even then, you need to determine if you wouldn’t rather compare other colleges and financial aid offers.
If you don’t want to commit just yet, your college might have early action instead. You also submit your application early with early action and hear back sooner, but it’s non-binding. You have until May 1 to make your choice on whether to attend.
College Raptor can help you learn more about your admission chances at your dream school. Sign up for College Match today – it’s free!
