Podcast: Is Applying Early a Good Decision?
Do you understand the policies and what you are agreeing to?
Each college may have different policies
If you apply early and are NOT accepted, will you be denied or will you be considered in the next round?
If you are considered in the next round, and have new information in, will the college consider the new information (mid-year grades, new SAT/ACT scores?)
Scenario: if you apply early decision to a college and are accepted, you typically have to withdraw all of your other college applications.
What happens if you get NO financial aid from the early decision college, and one of the other colleges you applied to would have given you a significant scholarship? Can you assume this risk?
Will you be ready?
Students who apply for an early deadline must be especially prepared going into junior year. Be prepared with activities lists and essays ready.
Be ready to request letters of recommendation (LORs) with plenty of time prior to the deadline.
If you need to rush your application, applying early may work against you.
Is it an advantage to apply early?
Is it an admissions advantage to apply early?
Look at data: Early Decision and Regular Decision Acceptance Rates Class of 2028.
Note: some colleges may show increased acceptance rates for early decision applicants however, there can be different reasons for this! It does not always mean they give priority to students who apply early. It may mean that the students who are applying early are a more prepared and committed applicant group.
Typically, if you apply early, you will find out early! That can be nice to know!
Do any of your colleges require you to apply early for specific scholarships, majors, honors colleges or programs?
ex/USC requires applicants to apply early to qualify for some scholarships.
Check individual college websites as policies may vary
Definition: A college application plan where you apply early and agree that the college is your first choice.
Binding? Yes — binding. If admitted, you are expected to:
Enroll at that college
Withdraw applications to other colleges
Not apply to additional schools afterward
Typical Timeline:
Apply: Around Nov. 1 (or as early as Oct. 15)
Decision Released: December
Important Rules: You can usually still:
Apply to public universities
Apply to rolling-admission schools
Apply for scholarships elsewhere (unless the college specifically restricts this)
If Denied or Deferred:
Denied: You cannot reapply that cycle.
Deferred: Your application moves to regular decision, and you may apply elsewhere normally.
Financial Aid Exception: You may decline an ED offer if the financial aid package is not affordable after discussing it with the college.
Definition: A second round of Early Decision offered by some colleges. It functions almost the same as ED but with a later deadline.
Binding? Yes — also binding. If accepted, you are expected to enroll and withdraw other applications.
Typical Timeline:
Apply: Around Jan. 1
Decision Released: February
Why Students Use ED2: Common reasons include:
They changed their top-choice school
They were rejected or deferred from another ED school
They wanted more time to improve grades or test scores
Key Point: ED2 is not “less binding” than ED. The commitment is essentially identical.
Also called Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA) at some colleges.
Definition: An early application plan where you apply early without a binding commitment, but agree to limit where else you apply early.
Binding? No — not binding. If admitted, you do not have to enroll and can compare offers until May 1.
Typical Timeline:
Apply: Around Nov. 1
Decision Released: December
What Makes it "Restrictive": The restrictions vary by college, but usually you cannot apply Early Decision elsewhere or to other private colleges' early programs. Many REA schools still allow:
Applications to public universities
Rolling admissions programs
Scholarship programs with early deadlines
Definition: A regular early application plan with no binding commitment.
Binding? No.
Flexibility: You can:
Apply to multiple schools early
Wait for all decisions
Compare financial aid packages
Decide by May 1