If possible, however, applying Early Decision I is likely to be your best option. What Is Early Decision? Generally speaking, Early Decision is binding and breaking an ED agreement usually leads to severe consequences. Although there are. Apply Early – medical school admissions are rolling, meaning students are accepted as they apply and not on a single date. The number of applicants and admit rates, however, may differ each year between our different rounds of admission. Schools generally only offer Early Decision or Early Action—not both. Students who are accepted early are done stressing about getting into college months before most applicants. While applying early decision typically doesn't hurt an applicant's financial aid package, it does make it more difficult for the applicant to negotiate the aid package. On the other hand, early decision programs are binding, meaning your child will be obligated to attend the school they’re accepted to as long as the financial aid package is considered adequate by your family (more on this in the “Financial aid” section below). v. Regents of the University of Michigan et al, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. This contract will be part of your application and will require a signature from your parents and school counselor, as well as from you. Students who apply early decision know their admission decision before the New Year and, if accepted, they are set free from the grueling college application process. If you have applied for one of these early options, here’s what you can expect. According to the NACAC website, early action is defined as a process whereby students "apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date." However, for applicants, early decision is not as attractive as early action for several reasons: Because of the restrictions placed on applicants applying through early decision, a student should not apply early unless he or she is 100% sure that the college is the best choice. What is a Safety School in College Admissions? Make it clear in your school handbook and at college planning events that your policy for early-decision applications is to send the student's final transcript to one college only: anything else is unethical. Early action plans are nonbinding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1. ED plans have come under fire as unfair to students from families with low incomes, since they do not have the opportunity to compare financial aid offers. Early decision plans are binding — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. EARLY DECISION (ED) I AND II In this binding application program, a student applies on or before Nov. 1 (sometimes Nov. 15) and then receives his or her admission decision by the middle of December. Applicants who apply early decision have made a clear statement that the school is their number one choice. Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. Colleges vary in the proportion of the class admitted early and in the percentage of early applicants they admit. What Is a Likely Letter in College Admissions? Early Decision (ED) is a very appealing application option. This type of institutional interest and loyalty is valuable for a college both in terms of higher retention rates and future alumni giving prospects. Early Action applicants apply by an early deadline and receive an admissions decision early in the cycle, and can consider their acceptance offer without the need to commit immediately. Early decision is binding promise. This means you apply early to a school and, if accepted, you must enroll. Early Decision is, undoubtedly, a commitment. Probably the most apparent problem of applying under the Early Decision (ED) option is that if you receive early acceptance, you will get one—and only one—financial aid offer. Those who apply early have a better chance of acceptance because they are competing for more spots. Applying to an ED or EA plan is most appropriate for a student who: Applying to an ED or EA plan is not appropriate for a student who: Encourage students who want to apply early to fill out NACAC's Early Decision Self-Evaluation Questionnaire, in the Deciding About Early Decision and Early Action handout. You may want to share this with parents as well. 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