The anticipation of applying to college is a lot. The pressure of getting in where you want to go is even greater. The idea of just doing it once and then being done is appealing to many students. But relief shouldn’t be the motivating factor in applying early decision to a school. While it’s true that acceptance rates for early decision schools trend higher, applying early decision is a huge commitment—it’s one you can’t get out of. In this post, we talk about what that means and the reasons someone might consider early decision as an option.
It’s Not for Commitment-Phobes
The biggest consideration in applying early decision is that it’s binding. When you apply to a school early decision, you will typically need to meet a November deadline. In December, you’ll be notified that you’ve been accepted or rejected. There’s also a third determination: Some students are deferred, meaning they’ll join the general applicant pool and find out with everyone else. If you are accepted in the early round, come hell or highwater, you’re going to that school. So, the most important thing to consider when applying is, do you really, really, really want to go to this school? If the answer is anything short of “there’s nowhere else that even comes close for me,” early decision might not be for you. If there’s any hesitation on your part, it’s not worth the risk of committing somewhere you might be lukewarm about. Yes, there will be less competition in the early decision pool as fewer students make up their minds this early. But there will be robust competition, no less. Senior year is a time to explore and learn more about yourself. It’s okay to take your time.
You Have to Get Your Ducks in a Row Early
We have long preached the benefits of getting all components of the application process done early. If you’re going to apply early decision, you’ll need to have all of your materials (including your standardized tests) done before the fall due date. We don’t see this as a negative, but applying early might only be a reasonable feat for those who got started early. If you’re a junior who’s just starting standardized test practice, you might need more time to get the scores you want. If you had a rough go in your freshman year, you might want another semester of grades to bring up your GPA. Don’t rush it. Sending a weak application in early is no better than applying with a strong one in the regular admissions pool.
The Long-Run Could Bring Less Work
If you are accepted early decision, it will result in less work in the long run. There’s a chance (not a particularly high one, but a chance) that you’ll just be applying to one school. That means you’ll only have to write one set of essays and fill out one application instead of 10. The other benefit is that the second semester of senior year is generally a lot less stressful. While it’s not unheard of for an early decision applicant to have their admission revoked, that would require serious neglect of the rest of your high school career.
The rewards for applying early decision are high, but doing so usually requires both advanced planning and a laser-focus on a particular school or program. It’s not for everyone and that’s okay. But for those who do think early decision is the move for them, it’s best to get started as early as possible.
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