You’ve made up your mind where you want to go to college and you’re preparing to apply under the Early Decision admission plan. Great idea, right? Possibly–just be sure you’ve weighed the pros and cons. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you apply Early Decision.
Is there a statistical advantage in applying Early Decision?
“I’ll have a better chance of getting in if I apply Early Decision” is a very common reason students give for applying Early Decision to certain schools. While it’s true that some colleges report significantly better odds of admission for Early Decision applicants, this is not the norm. In most cases, the rate of admission for Early Decision and Regular Decision is comparable. Do your research and seek out information on whether or not your first-choice college accepts a significantly higher percentage of Early Decision applicants.
Is there anything I can do with extra application time to strengthen my application?
Perhaps you can strengthen your application by improving your college essay, completing a project or internship, winning an award, and so on. If there’s something you can accomplish mid-year that you believe will give you a competitive edge in admissions, it’s wise to complete that before applying to college.
If you’re not 100% sure that your application is as polished and complete as it can possibly be, don’t apply Early Decision.
Can I afford to go to the college to which I’m applying Early Decision?
Because the Early Decision admissions plan is a contractually binding plan, you’re required to attend the college to which you apply Early Decision. Do your research and figure out how much financial aid, if any, you expect to receive, and make certain you can afford the full cost of attendance minus whatever financial aid the institution offers.
Many schools cover some financial need (as determined by FAFSA and/or the CSS Profile’s judgment of your Estimated Family Contribution) and many offer merit scholarships in academics, athletics, and the arts. Will these scholarships be enough to cover the full cost of attendance at the institution in question? Are you prepared to take on public or private loans to finance your education if necessary?
Also, be sure to check out our “Winning College Scholarships for High Schoolers” Video Course on Udemy. I’m sure it will be useful to you.
Do I often second-guess or regret my choices?
When you’re young, you think you know what you want. However, being young also comes with making many regretful mistakes. If you’re an obsessive worrier with a history of making bad decisions, applying Early Decision might not be for you.
Have you done your homework? Have you visited the school, ideally staying overnight and sitting in on a class? Is everything going to work with financing your education?
If you’re absolutely certain that you want to and are able to attend the college to which you’re applying Early Decision, then by all means, apply! Good luck.
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Additional Resources: “Winning College Scholarships for High Schoolers” Video Course