Should you apply Early Decision?

Should you apply Early Decision? Some top colleges fill up to half their class using early decision. And their admission rates can be double or triple regular decision rates. We sat down with Neal Schwartz of Armonk’s College Planning of Westchester to discuss: Should you apply early decision?  

What is Early Decision?

Early Decision (ED) is a way for students to state their desire to go to one school over all others. Students may only apply to one college “ED.” If accepted, they are committed to go there and must withdraw all other applications. However, if a student also applies for financial aid, they are not bound by the agreement if their ability to attend is affected by their financial aid offer. Single-Choice Early Action (EA) is a recent option some schools have begun to offer. Although it is non-binding, applicants may not apply ED or EA to any other college.

ED/EA application deadlines are typically in November and students receive notification in December. There are 210 schools that offer Early Decision. Most of these schools are in the category of most competitive and more competitive.

Why do schools offer ED?

Colleges offer ED because it commits top students to the college, and breaks their review cycle into smaller, more manageable loads. It also increases their yield or enrollment rate, the percentage of students who accept their admission offer. Yield is one of the most competitive metrics that colleges strive to maximize. It also offers a desirable impact on a school’s admission rate.

Since ED applicants are bound to the college if accepted, the yield on ED applicants is close to 100%. The more qualified ED applications a school receives and can accept, the less they have to rely on “lower yielding” regular decision applicants to fill their classes. This all works to drive down their acceptance rate. A low acceptance rate makes a college appear more selective and a higher enrollment rate makes it appear more desirable. Which can drive up applications the next year and further lower the schools’ admit rates.

Should you apply Early Decision?

First ED is NOT for everyone! But for students who are sure of their top choice school, ED can offer a number of benefits. Because the ED pool is smaller than the Regular Decision pool, ED applications may receive a more careful review. Although most colleges know how many applications to expect and are adequately staffed for the task, it is not unreasonable to think that it is better to be in a smaller pool.

For the successful ED applicant, of course, there is a significant benefit to finding out early. You both eliminate stress and get to make a statement at school where you can proudly sport your new college’s spirit wear like a badge.

However, the biggest issue driving student’s increasing interests in early decision is the higher acceptance rates for ED applications compared to the regular decision pool. At some of the most selective schools, ED admit rates can be double or even triple regular decision rates. What’s more, some colleges fill half their freshman class with ED students. In our area, a majority of students apply ED for these reasons.

One important caveat is that the higher ED acceptance rate does not mean that it is easier for less qualified students to sneak in early decision. Colleges still are looking to maintain their school’s GPA and ACT averages. You still have to be a qualified applicant to be admitted ED. Don’t make the mistake of applying to a school that you don’t have the qualifications for and waste what could otherwise be an advantage for you at a more appropriate school.

And the downsides?

First, the process can put tremendous strain on a student who may not have a school that jumps to the top of their list. It’s easier to decide seven schools you would like to apply to than it is to pick one. Many students just can’t pick a top choice. Most students who have difficulty choosing a top choice school wind up not applying ED at all.

And that can be for the best. The biggest potential downside to applying early decision is if you have a change of heart and decide for, whatever reason, that your ED school is not the best fit for you after all. Since an ED decision is binding, it should involve great thought and discussion.

The plot thickens when you consider ED II…

Yes. ED II, which is offered by 82 more selective colleges, typically with a January 1 deadline and mid-February notification, is a great and complicating factor. It’s helpful for colleges that know they may not be the number one choice for many students, but could be the number two choice. And it can be beneficial for students who ostensibly get a second crack at the benefits of applying early decision.

However, it has turned college application sequencing into an art form. Should a student apply ED to a reach school? If so, is their ED II a reach as well? How high you reach, if you choose to do so, is a function of how confident you are about your regular decision schools and how happy you would be to go to one of them. If you’re not too excited about them, you may want to reconsider your sequencing strategy.

Some students (and parents) can get stubborn with unrealistic expectations. They may see ED/RD sequencing as one big game of poker or a chance to win the lottery. Sure, you can’t “win” unless you play, but the odds are the student will NOT get IN if they aren’t sufficiently qualified. Since every student is different, and colleges are dynamic with their admission each year, it is hard to generalize what the “right” approach might be.

One of the services we offer our students is college list preparation and sequencing plans. I would suggest getting someone you trust to logic check your college lists and sequencing.

Any further advice?
First: Flush out your college list first. There are many changes that occur during the college search. Top of the list colleges can become less attractive over time. New schools can pop up and rise to the top. Once you have a list of “good fit” schools, try to prioritize. If one or two rise to the top, consider early decision sequencing. Second: Don’t not pin your hopes on your ED school, paying little attention to other schools. The timeframe between ED denial and Regular Decision deadlines is slim, leaving little time for additional applications.

About Neal: Neal is a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association and a contributor to What To Do’s Back To School features. College Planning of Westchester provides college counseling programs, including SAT/ACT prep, college list, resume, essay and application assistance. Since 2004 their track record shows average increases of 175-250 points on the SAT and 3-5 points on the ACT. (College Planning of Westchester, 200 Business Park Dr., Armonk; 914.273.2353; www.collegeplanningofwestchester.com)

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