Deadline Drama: Early, Regular, and Everything In Between — Part 1: Early Decision

This blog is the first in a series describing the different types of application deadlines.

The myriad of application deadline options can be dizzying and confusing. Many colleges can have up to five different application dates. For students and families encountering the many options for the first time, it can be hard to know which application deadline to choose. This series of blogs describes the different types of application deadlines and the advantages, drawbacks, and important things to note for each type.

Part 1: Early Decision

Early Decision, or ED, is just that: a student indicating (to the admissions committee) that a particular college as their top choice. By applying through early decision, the student commits to attend the institution if they are accepted. This is perhaps the most distinctive aspect of early decision—it is a binding agreement. If a student is accepted, they agree to pull any applications submitted at other institutions and commit to accept the offer no matter what. This is an important aspect to note before submitting an early decision application.

While it might seem like early decision is a new aspect of admissions, it has actually been around since the 1950s. Often it was used by colleges as a means to ensure they would have a full incoming class. In the early stages, its use was limited to a few selective institutions, and it didn't start gaining more wide-spread popularity until the 80's and 90's. The most recent permutation of early decision is early decision II—a second early decision deadline for those who were rejected, deferred or didn't apply during the first round of early decision.

Early decision has gained such popularity in some admissions departments that some colleges fill nearly half their incoming class through early admission. For example, Northwestern filled about 55% of their incoming class through early decision in the most recent admissions cycle. Duke was almost as close, filling 49% of spots for the upcoming freshman class through early decision.

Early Decision: Smart Move or Risky Bet?

Considering this background information, why might a student choose to apply early decision, and who might be better waiting for a different application deadline? To make that decision, I suggest considering the advantages and drawbacks of early decision. Here are a few to consider:

Advantages:

• Acceptance rates can be significantly higher for those who apply early decision. For example, during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle Vanderbilt accepted 13% of early decision applicants, but only 3.3% of regular decision applicants. That's four times the likelihood of admission!!!
  

• If you know where you want to go, it can be strong way to show the college your commitment to attending. Colleges love knowing a student is committed.

  
  

• Some early decision acceptances come with benefits. Colleges might offer priority in housing selection, specific merit aid available only to those who apply early decision, or priority course registration to students admitted through early decision.
  

Drawbacks:

• Since the decision is binding, there is no option to compare different financial aid offers. This explains why the makeup of early decision applicant pools disproportionately skew toward wealthier applicants. Interestingly, both Harvard and Princeton dropped their early admissions programs in 2006, acknowledging the unbalanced make-up of early applicant pool, with Princeton's President stating that "early admission advantages the advantaged." It is worth noting that within a few years both institutions reinstated early action (a non-binding alternative). Unless you have the financial means to enroll regardless of the the financial aid offer, this can be a tricky proposition.*

• Committing to an early decision application can cause some students to think they are done working on applications. When a student applies early, they might be lulled into a false sense of security, believing that they don't need to apply anywhere else or don't need to work with the same diligence on other applications. It's the unfortunate equivalent of putting all of your eggs in one basket, and hoping you don't get deferred or rejected.

Important things to note:

1. Some schools now offer not one, but two early decision deadlines. This could work for those who didn't get admitted to their first choice early decision school, or simply need/want more time to work on their application before submitting it for consideration.

2. It's worth noting that early decision is primarily associated with private colleges. There are only a handful of public universities that offer early decision. This means that the colleges offering early decision often come with a higher price tag. Many public universities opt for early action (which is non-binding) instead, but that will be covered in a later blog in this series.
   

3. Athletes frequently take up a disproportional share of the early decision admits. According to Jeffrey Selingo, "Nearly all recruited athletes at elite schools now receive their spot in the incoming class through early admissions."* This mean that the applicant pool could be very different from the regular decision applicant pool. Athletes have coaches and athletic departments advocating for their admission. However, Becky Munsterer Sabky notes that while "preselected athletes [bump] the overall admit rate to a misleading number...even when recruited athletes are removed from the equation, nonathletes are still advantaged statistically in the early process."**

Weighing the Commitment: The Bottom Line of Early Decision

If a student is unsure where they want to attend, or are less than fully committed to a particular institution, this is not the type of application for them. While the higher acceptance rates might lure some students, the binding nature of the application means that an accepted student cannot change their mind. Further, if finding the right financial fit is a priority, having more financial packages to compare is a better choice.

However, if a student is certain that a college is their top choice and they can accept the accompanying financial aid offer, early decision is a excellent way to boost their chances of acceptance.

Each student and family should make the decision that best fits their unique situation. Having the right information, enables a good decision. Review the early decision terms at the specific college you intend to apply to and understand the specific benefits and the accompanying costs.

* Many institutions guarantee that they will meet the financial need (as assessed by the FAFSA) of accepted early decisions students. There is also the option to appeal the financial aid award. It is also important to note that many schools will release a student from the binding contract if the student proves they cannot meet the financial responsibility.

** Who Gets in and Why, 137-138.

*** Valedictorians at the Gate, 144.

Need help assessing whether early decision is right for you? Path and Place Consulting is here to help along the application journey.

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