What is Early Decision?

Admission Type: Early Action | Early Decision | Rolling Admission

Early decision, like early action, is an accelerated college application process in which students typically must complete their applications in November. In most cases, students will then receive a decision from the college before the new year.

Early decision has a few obvious benefits:

• Frequently the acceptance rate is higher for early decision than it is for regular admissions.
• Students who aren't accepted early are still considered with the regular applicant pool.
• Students who are accepted early are done stressing about getting into college months before most applicants.

However, early decision is not as attractive as early action for several reasons:

• Early decision is binding. If admitted, a student must attend the school or else lose a sizable enrollment deposit.
• A student may apply to only one college early (although additional applications for regular admissions are allowed).
• If accepted, a student must withdraw all other college applications.
• A student accepted early must decide to attend before receiving a financial aid package (note that inadequate financial aid is the one allowable reason for breaking an early decision contract).

Because of the restrictions placed on applicants applying through early decision, a student should not apply early unless he or she is 100% sure that the college is the best choice.

Also, be careful about the financial aid issue. A student who gets accepted through early decision has no way to compare financial aid offers. The money issue, in fact, is the main reason why a few schools like Harvard and University of Virginia dropped their early decision programs; they felt it gave wealthy students an unfair advantage.

The chart below shows a small sampling of early decision deadlines and response dates.