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When applying for college, students have several options open to them, each with benefits and drawbacks. There's Early Decision (ED), Early Acceptance (EA), Regular Decision (RD), and Rolling Admission (RA). It's essential to know the pros and cons of each one and make a decision on which one is the most appropriate.

Of them, ED is the most committed application students can opt for, and there are crucial factors to consider before applying with Early Decision.

Early Decision vs Early Action

Early Decision is an application where students commit to a single college, typically their top choice, and enroll if accepted. ED is a binding agreement. If accepted, students must attend that school. The deadline for this type of application is typically mid-November, and students will get their verdict in December. 

Early Decision is not to be confused with Early Action. Both are similar in that students send their applications early (mid-November) and get an answer back from their school within a month or two. But the main difference is that Early Action is NOT a binding agreement like Early Decision is. If EA applicants receive the offer, they are not required to accept it; they can continue to apply for other schools and usually only need to make a final decision at the end of spring. 

For Early Decision, the student will be committed to that school if accepted. And because of the exclusive nature of this agreement, students should only consider Early Decision for their first-choice college—the one they're confident they will excel in. ED requires the most commitment and careful planning, so students must weigh the benefits and drawbacks intently. 

Benefits of Early Decision

One of the main draws of ED is that it may increase your chances of getting accepted to your school of choice. In their 2019 report, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) stated a 61% admission rate for ED applicants as opposed to 49% for all others. Top colleges often value students who show initiative and dedication, and because of its exclusive nature, students who apply ED are favored. 

So, for a student who is already a strong candidate for college admissions, applying ED is another factor that can further elevate their chances at acceptance, which is especially beneficial in the highly competitive landscape of the top American universities. 

Another overlooked benefit of Early Decision is that it can help take the stress off students in the application process and save time in the long run. While this may seem like a trivial benefit, stress is a significant factor in reduced performance across nearly every field. In their article from 2015, NYU found that students in high school—especially the top performers—experience chronically high levels of stress, which leads to decreased academic success, mental function, and increased risk behavior. The process of applying for college is yet another stressful experience that high schoolers will go through in their junior and senior years. But for those accepted through ED, college searches end around mid-December, allowing students to focus on other matters without the thought of college admissions dragging out through spring. 

The decisive nature of ED gives students the headroom to focus on other matters in their senior year, such as academics, extracurriculars, and spending more time with family and friends.

Drawbacks of Early Decision

The main disadvantage of ED is it’s a binding commitment. If accepted, students must attend that school or face repercussions. Applying ED also means that students must withdraw their applications to other schools and turn down other offers of acceptance—despite any scholarship packages or preferences they may have. Students may miss out on offers that better align with their goals if they hastily apply through ED.

Another drawback is that ED could force them to rush their applications, weakening their chances of acceptance. ED deadlines typically fall in around mid-November, so students have less time to perfect their application than those who apply RD. Ideally, students will have crafted their application and built up their candidacy all throughout their junior year (and even earlier) to give themselves the best chance at acceptance into their college of choice. 

Finally, only some schools offer ED to begin with. Typically, the schools that offer ED are the top colleges and Ivy League schools, and even the ED acceptance rates for those schools can be very competitive. But for many others, Early Decision isn't offered as an application. So, even if a student has decided on their top school, they may still need to explore more options and submit to multiple schools if their top choice doesn't offer ED. 

What is Right for Your Student?

Because of the exclusive nature of applying through Early Decision, students must carefully consider if it's the right choice and the right school for them. Early Decision can increase a student's chances of acceptance and reduce the stress of college applications, but if done haphazardly, it may also lock them into a less-than-optimal scenario where other options may have been preferable.

ED is a choice for students who are wholly committed to a particular school. It demonstrates their commitment, but it is not a choice to make lightly, and if students are not sure about a school, there are other options open to them, such as Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission.

For expert guidance on the college admissions process, contact one of our counselors for a free consultation on how to navigate the college application process. Our team of former admissions officers will share their first-hand experience to give students the best chance of getting accepted into their college of choice. 

Our services have helped students gain acceptance into the best colleges nationwide: 39 students into Ivy League schools, 44 into the top 10 schools, and 75 into the top 30 schools in 2023.

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