There are different application strategies when it comes to US college applications, but choosing an Early Decision (ED) is perhaps the most important of all. Early decision is a binding commitment – in each application round, a student can only apply to one school under ED. If the college you have applied to under ED accepts you, you have to attend.
From admissions officers' perspective, ED guarantees yield – students will have to attend if accepted. This helps admissions officers to do that job better by minimizing the likelihood of over or under-enrollment. Most private schools, especially the competitive ones, have a much higher acceptance rate for ED applications than regular decision applications (RD). Some colleges could fill a third or even over half of their freshman class over ED, leaving fewer spots for regular decision applicants.
The early decision deadline typically falls on November 1st, and applicants usually hear back by mid-December. ED naturally favors students who do not need financial aid, as students are obligated to attend their ED schools and are unable to compare the financial assistance or scholarship packages.
There are other variations of the early acceptance plan, including Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and Early Decision 2:
| Early Decision | Early Decision 2 | Early Action | Restrictive Early Action |
Deadline | Early Nov | Late Dec / Early Jan | Early Nov | Early Nov |
Is it a binding commitment? | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Allow for comparison of financial aid and scholarship packages? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Allow for other early applications? | Varies by colleges | Varies by colleges | Yes | No |
Allow for other regular decision applications? | Yes, students can apply to other colleges under RD but must withdraw if admitted | Yes, students can apply to other colleges under RD but must withdraw if admitted | Yes | Yes |
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