Benefits of Applying to College Early Decision Action

Most highly selective colleges in the country have a regular admission deadline sometime between the end of December and mid February. Most also have a deadline for Early Action or Early Decision applicants that   typically falls in early November. This article explores some of the advantages as well as a couple disadvantages of applying to college under one of these early admission programs. What Are Early Action and Early Decision?   Its important to realize that Early Action and Early Decision admission programs have important differences: Early Action: One of the most attractive options, Early Action allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want, and they are not obligated to attend if admitted. Students have until May 1st to make a decision about attending.  Learn more in this article on Early Action. Single-Choice Early Action: Like Early Action, you are not bound to attend should you be admitted. Also, like Early Action, applicants have until May 1st to make a decision. Unlike regular Early Action, you can apply to only one college through an early application program (but you can apply to other schools through non-binding regular admission programs). This restriction helps the college better measure the applicants demonstrated interest than is possible with an Early Action program. Learn more in this article on Single-Choice Early Action. Early Decision: The most restrictive of the early admission programs, Early Decision is binding and restrictive. You can apply to just one college through an early admission program, and if admitted, you need to withdraw any other college applications and attend. Early Decision is a poor choice for students who arent sure where they want to attend.  Learn more in this article on Early Decision. Does Applying Early Improve Your Chances? Colleges will tell you that they use the same standards, if not higher standards, when admitting students through their Early Action and Early Decision programs. On one level, this is probably true. The strongest, most interested students tend to apply early. Students who dont make the cut will often be moved into the regular admission pool, and the admission decision will be deferred. Students who clearly arent qualified to be admitted will be rejected rather than deferred. Despite what colleges say, the actual admission numbers show that your chances of being admitted are significantly higher should you apply through an Early Action or Early Decision program. This table of 2014 Ivy League data makes this point clear: Ivy League Early and Regular Admit Rates College Early Admit Rate Overall Admit Rate Type of Admission Brown 18.9% 8.6% Early Decision Columbia 19.7% 6.9% Early Decision Cornell 27.8% 14% Early Decision Dartmouth 28% 11.5% Early Decision Harvard 21.1% 5.9% Single-Choice Early Action Princeton 18.5% 7.3% Single-Choice Early Action U Penn 25.2% 9.9% Early Decision Yale 15.5% 6.3% Single-Choice Early Action Keep in mind that the overall admit rate listed above  includes  the early admit students. This means that the admit rate for the regular applicant pool is even lower than the overall admit rate numbers. Colleges Like Early Applicants. Heres Why: Theres a good reason why colleges are filling more and more of their classes with early applicants.   Early applicants are motivated.Early applicants have to be organized to get their applications ready by early November (or earlier).Early applicants are showing a commitment to the school. Applying early is an important measure of a students demonstrated interest.The college can lock-in its in-coming class early and have less uncertainty in the spring. Benefits of Applying to College Early Action or Early Decision: Improve your chances of being admitted.Demonstrate your interest in a college.Get your admission decision before Christmas, and if the news is good, save yourself from a stressful spring. Downside of Applying Early: With Early Decision, you must attend if admitted.With Early Decision, you wont be able to compare financial aid packages, and youll have less leverage for negotiating your aid.You need to have your application polished two months earlier than regular applicants.Any SAT or ACT exams after October will probably be too late for consideration when applying early.