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With Rachel Korn, former admissions officer at several top universities.
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Is Early Decision (ED) Or Early Action (EA) For You?
HEAD Start
With fall deadlines approaching, it's time to think about applying in an early round. Have you found your one and only dream school where you see yourself above all other places? If you've found your true college love, and you can afford it (see below), you could improve your chances of admissions at some schools by applying in an early round - and if the school says yes, you're done!

HEAD Lines
To determine whether early is right for you, ask yourself the following:
  • Is this really the perfect school for me? (You will be committing to attend if admitted to an Early Decision school.)

  • Can I afford it, or can I trust that financial aid will come through for me?

  • Am I applying not for what I think is the best "acceptance strategy" but for fit?

  • Is my family supportive of this choice?
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Counselor's Corner

Applying Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) increases your chances of admission at most schools. With application volume increasing, admissions committees are looking more closely at a student's genuine interest in the schools to which he or she is applying. Thus, applying early is a great way to demonstrate this. Given that most ED programs in particular are binding (EA are not binding), promising that you will enroll if admitted is a key way to show your commitment to a school.

However, applying ED or EA may not be the best strategy for you. If you haven't completed your campus visits, want to learn more about a college's academic or social envrionment, or aren't 100% certain that a school is your first choice, you may want to spend the first couple months of the school year researching colleges rather than preparing your ED or EA application. The decision as to where to spend the next four years of your life learning and socializing is very important, so you want to thoroughly assess your options to find the best fit, rather than rushing through the process. Also, if your junior year grades and previous extracurricular activities aren't as strong as you would like, waiting to apply regular decision in January will give you time to both improve your grades and make an impact outside of the classroom.

Susan Joan Mauriello
susan@applyivy.com
Apply Ivy Limited
www.applyivy.com
Consulting services for admission to America's top colleges and universities



The views expressed herein are those of their authors alone, and do not necessarily represent the views of Hundreds of Heads or of IECA.

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From Other HEADS
KNOW YOURSELF. I've proven that I have some difficulty making big decisions and feeling confident in my choices. Early decision was definitely the best way to go for me. If you have an idea where you want to be, single out one school where the location, academics, atmosphere, etc., would please you. If you're leaning towards one school, apply early. This way if you get in, the decision is made. If you don't get in, you still have the opportunity to get into other schools through regular decision.

-- KATIE
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY


UNLESS YOU ARE FINANCIALLY SECURE or want to get into a school that is way out of reach, I would not recommend early decision.

-- SARAH BORMEL
BOSTON UNIVERSITY


Web Resources
More on the details of early applying:
www.collegeboard.com/parents/apply/college-applications/21342.html


HoH Tip
If any of your schools offer rolling admission, it could pay to get that application in early - after all, if you get in, it's great peace of mind to know you have a good option already while polishing up your regular deadline applications.


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