By now, you’re probably familiar with early decision deadlines in the admissions process. And if you’re not, it’s a pretty simple concept.
If you apply early decision (ED) to a school by submitting your application before the ED deadline, you are letting that college know that if you are accepted, you are 100% committing to that school.
Essentially, the decision is binding and a submitted application is your way of saying, “Yes, I am definitely attending this school if I’m accepted.”
It may seem like a tempting option, especially when more students than ever are wait-listed or rejected from their first choice schools during the admissions process. But early decision isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s for very few.
The following are five signs you're not ready to apply early decision:
Is there a nagging whisper about your second choice school in the back of your mind? It may not seem like it, but November to January or February, when regular decision deadlines occur, is plenty of time to change your mind about your first choice school.
If you’re applying early decision, you want to be 100% sure that you’re ready to commit to that school because once you are accepted, there is no backing out.
First off, congrats! Way to give senioritis the cold shoulder and demand more from yourself this last year in school.
Second, the fact that your grades are outstanding will not only impact your GPA but could possibly have a positive effect on your merit award money. Cha-ching!
Check out your scholarship matches and apply now.
Submitting your application now with a lower GPA could mean getting less in scholarships from your school of choice. So if your grades are on the upswing, consider applying in late December or early January. It could make a thousand dollar difference…or more!
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