Application Options. Applicants who apply ED II will get their admissions decision earlier than usual, typically in February. If you are unsure, tend to change your mind, or aren't excited about attending the school, then early decision probably isn't a good choice for you. Step 5: Fill out your application in September and October, making sure to edit for clarity and proofread for errors. Now that you have a sense of the early decision application process, let's look at the deadlines of some popular schools. It is a binding agreement, one that requires the parents and the school counselor to also sign an affidavit saying the students understands the agreement. Youll have to provide standardized test scores at an earlier date than if you were applying RD or ED II, which means that youll have fewer opportunities to, If youre deferred ED I, youll need to put some time into. That timing can be extremely important in a number of ways, especially if youre trying to craft an overall strategy for where and when to apply. Instead, dedicate your time and efforts to one project, organization or volunteer activity, Rim says. You can also apply to as many EA schools as you choose, as long as they are not considered Restricted Early Action (REA). Make every part shine. Should I Apply ED I or ED II to College - College Admissions Consultant She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. If you are not accepted to your ED I school, you are permitted to apply to another school in the ED II round. July 25, 2023 4:03 PM PT. If you were deferred by your ED I college, however, the situation is somewhat different. The question is, should you apply to an ED II school if you were not accepted to your ED I school? Early Action is an admissions plan where you apply to the university early. 2022-23 College Application Deadlines - College Transitions Writing the personal essay is a process, and you want to give yourself time to brainstorm, draft, get feedback, and revise. from your ED I school, you are no longer in the running for the ED I school at all, and youre free to apply to an ED II school alongside your RD schools. Early decision is a unique option when it comes to applying to college because it's binding. For instance, you are only allowed to apply to one ED I school, and attempting to get around this rule can result in serious consequences for you and even for your high school. , Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Confirm that any required attachments are the correct files and have been properly uploaded. If you are applying with standardized test scores and need to retake the ACT or SAT, you should take the tests by October, or early November (latest). It tends to be smaller schools that offer Early Decision II, perhaps so they can have greater control over their enrollment numbers. Generally, yes, applying early does increase your chances. Here's how. Instead of waiting to hear back from multiple colleges and juggling multiple admissions offers later in the spring, youll be able to start planning in earnest for your college experience. When you apply early decision, you sign a statement agreeing to enroll in that college if you're accepted. Colleges can use the process to start filling their matriculating classes early and to keep their yield rates high. Put your best foot forward in all areas. You are obligated by the agreement you signed to attend College B. Do you have solid reasons for wanting to attend this school? Note that Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming do NOT have any schools that offer early decision plans for general undergraduate admissions. Navigate your entire college application journey with Common App. However, there is some risk involved; if youre accepted through either ED round, you wont be able to. Research the schools you're interested in applying to. "There's so much volatility in admissions right now and it's really hard to know if you're going to get in or not," so students are applying to more schools, says Madeleine Rhyneer, vice president of consulting services and dean of enrollment management at EAB, an education firm that provides research, technology and advisory services. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Important College Application Deadlines You Can't Miss - PrepScholar Early decision is a binding admission plan. Prison education programs help lower recidivism rates and increase employment opportunities post-release. Meanwhile, test-blind schools don't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if they are submitted. Once this decision is selected, the ED Agreement will be . This means that you must have all your admissions materials ready early in the school year. Consider acceptance offer; do not have to commit upon receipt. Regular Decision (RD): The Regular Decision plan occurs when you apply as a regular applicant to a university. What are the steps in the college application process? In this post, well go over the differences between the ED I and ED II timelines, the pros and cons of each timeline, and how you can incorporate ED I and ED II applications into your overall college application strategy. Now you're informed, inspired, organized, and ready to begin. Some schools appear to accept a higher percentage of early decision candidates than they do regular decision candidates. You also want to give your high school at least three weeks' to a month's notice for sending off your transcript and any other official documents that need to be sent to colleges. If you're honest about who you are and what you've done, you're more likely to end up at a college that's a good fit for you. Youre obviously not required to apply to an ED II school, but if one of your other top-choice schools has an ED II option, its definitely something to think about. Applying to college is a big job. "I think the essays have become even more important than they were previously," Norman says. Bill benefits. Because of this, ED I and ED II share many of the same general pros and cons. You want the flexibility to compare admissions and financial aid offers from other colleges. Youll hear back about your application earlier than either ED II or RD applicants do. "One of the key challenges oftentimes for first gen and underrepresented applicants is they may not have the same resources at home that other students might have. For whatever reason, you dont withdraw your application. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started! ED I vs. ED II. 28% of ED applicants were admitted, filling 51% of the Class of 2026. While applications are up, enrollment is actually down in many places. It can be tempting to apply ED simply to get the college application process over as soon as you can, but youll want to reflect on whether you would be excited about the program and university if admitted. ED may give you an admissions advantage as it shows your commitment to attend. Standardized tests have been a significant barrier for many students, so the decision to go test-optional opened the doors for more applicants, particularly students of color and low-income students. by your ED I college, however, the situation is somewhat different. Scroll through the list or hit ctrl + F to find specific schools you're interested in! Aug. 22, 2022, at 1:12 p.m. Students generally begin filling out college applications the summer between their junior and senior year of high school, experts say. Each year, more than 1 million students apply to more than 1,000 Common App member colleges worldwide through our online college application platform. Rather than reading all applications and then making an admissions decision, rolling admissions will accept students who are qualified as soon as their applications are read. The move follows research that shows elite colleges prioritize white applicants and after the Supreme Court this summer severely limited affirmative action policies. ED 1 applications are usually due in Early November, although there are a few universities with applications due in early December. If you have a strong second choice among the colleges to which youd like to apply, and that college accepts ED II applications, applying to that college in the ED II round after being rejected from your first-choice college in the ED I round may be a good plan for you. Fifteen percent of students reported that they applied to a college specifically because it was test-optional, for instance, according to the EAB report. To receive financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. ED and EA are not for everyone, and they come with certain inherent risks. Early Decision vs. Regular Decision - Boston College The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. You are also generally permitted to apply to, Whether you apply ED I or ED II, you should only do so if youre very sure about your. If you want to learn more, you can look at our. For many first-gen students, cost is the biggest obstacle to a four-year degree. When you apply early decision, you sign a statement agreeing to enroll in that college if you're accepted. You may either be accepted, rejected, or deferred at that point. Some special programs in medical school can save students time and tuition costs, experts say. And when COVID happened, students weren't in school and that was often their lifeline to college applications.". A college applicationthe package your child sends to collegesusually includes many different elements; it's not just a form. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free. What is ED Signature and how do I put it? - College Confidential Forums Get updates from U.S. News including newsletters, rankings announcements, new features and special offers. Thats a bit more complicated. January 15 and January 31 are popular ones, too. Aug. 3, 2022, at 3:06 p.m. During the 2021-22 admission cycle, Boston College received 4,428 Early Decision applications (ED I and II combined). Finally, work on your personal essay over the summer, leaving several months to brainstorm ideas and work through drafts and revisions. 1:48. Theyre both binding single-choice ED programs which allow you to receive an admissions decision in advance of the RD timeline in exchange for committing to attend that college if accepted. Have you visited and explored its campus? If you're applying early decision, it's probably safe to say that you're excited about attending your school of choice. Since ED I deadlines fall so early in your senior year of high school, youll have to make your decision on where to apply and gather your application materials much farther in advance. When you apply early decision in November, you will get either accepted, denied, or deferred. Because of this, ED I and ED II share many of the same general pros and cons. For other students and parents who want to learn how to become the right student who would benefit from an REA, ED, or EA application, connect with CPSi. Your child can apply to colleges online or by mail. Your Social Security number. In most cases, you should ask by October 1. Step 4: Work on your personal essay and any other essays over the summer and fall. Because of this binding agreement to enroll, you can only apply to one school early decision. This means that you must have all your admissions materials ready early in the school year. Its worth noting that even though both ED I and ED II applicant pools generally have higher acceptance rates than RD applicant pools, ED admission in either round is not a sure thing, especially at very competitive colleges.