Preparing for Early Decision: Timeline, Tips, and Checklist 

Early Decision deadlines are not for the faint of heart. Rather, they’re for the bold, ambitious students who know exactly what they want and how to make it happen. When applying Early Decision, preparation is key. You need to be ahead of the game, organized, and committed. Below, we detail what Early Decision is, why it’s a strategic admissions move, and how to plan to apply by the deadline.

What Early Decision Means for Your Application Strategy

The Early Decision deadline is for students who know exactly where they want to attend. While they should have backups in case they are rejected, they’re applying to this dream school with the hope that they’re admitted. Ultimately, it makes their college decision a lot easier. Early Admission, on the other hand, is for students who simply wish to receive admissions notifications sooner. They may apply Early Admission to multiple schools and will have more time to make their final college decision.

Binding vs. Non-Binding

The first thing you need to understand about early deadlines is that there are two types. Early Decision is binding, meaning if you apply by this deadline, you are committed to that school if they accept you. Many schools require students to sign an Early Decision “contract” whenever they apply. Early Admission deadlines are non-binding. This means that there is no contractual obligation to attend if you’re admitted. Rather, you’re simply applying earlier and will receive your admission decision in turn.

Why Early Decision Requires Strong Preparation

Applying Early Decision does not take any more effort than applying Regular Decision; however, you must start the process sooner. And though you may be finished with your college applications before your peers, Early Decision is not for everyone. Because it’s a binding agreement, it should really only be used by students who are completely committed to attending a specific school. These are students who have visited campus multiple times, participated in admissions interviews, had conversations with current students, and maybe even stayed overnight. While Early Decision does not guarantee admission to wherever you’re applying, sometimes your odds of being admitted are better over this deadline than the others. According to Inside Higher Ed, Brown University admitted more students through Early Decision in 2024 than it did in 2023. Its acceptance rate for ED applications was 18% whereas the Regular Decision rate was 5%. Inside Higher Ed found similar scenarios at other institutions, like Yale and Duke.

Step-by-Step Timeline of Early Decision Preparation

If you plan to apply Early Decision, your college application process will look different from your peers. While they may wait until August or September to begin gathering application materials, you need to start in the spring of your junior year.

Spring of Junior Year

You should begin researching schools and making campus visits throughout your junior year of high school. By the spring, you should have your list of colleges narrowed down to 2-3 that you are considering for Early Decision. At this point, you may want to complete final visits to find the Early Decision school that’s right for you. You should also plan to take the SAT or ACT – or even both tests. By taking these exams during the spring of your junior year, you’ll be able to identify which test you perform best on as well as whether you need to take it again to improve your score before completing your application. There are only two dates for both the SAT and ACT in the late summer/early fall. Those will be your last efforts to submit a better score. Finally, identify who you plan to ask for letters of recommendation. These teachers, coaches, mentors, and employees may get bombarded during the fall semester with other requests. Asking in the spring gives them plenty of notice and time to provide a recommendation.

Summer Before Senior Year

Use the extra time over the summer to work on your personal statement, brush up on your standardized testing study skills, and put together a resume of your extracurricular activities. You can also use the summer to work a part-time job or volunteer, both of which can provide you with a more well-rounded application or material for your personal statement.

Fall of Senior Year

With the bulk of your work being done during your spring semester of junior year and over the summer, you’ll likely just have to put the finishing touches on your application. Reach out and ask for letters of recommendation if you haven’t received them yet. Also, ask your school counselor to review your essay and application. Use the fall standardized test dates to make one last-ditch effort at a great score if you need to. Finally, you’re ready to submit your application. Be sure to indicate somehow, whether that’s through signing an Early Decision contract with the school or reaching out directly to the admissions team, that you’re applying for the Early Decision deadline.

Building a Strong Early Decision Application

Waiting until the fall of your senior year to begin your Early Decision application will make the process rushed and could, in turn, hurt your overall chances of gaining admittance. It’s vital that you create a strong application, and this takes time.

Academic Preparation

When admissions committees view academic performance, they are obviously looking at the overall GPA, but they’re also looking at specific courses from a certain year: your junior year of high school. At this point in your high school career, you need to be taking challenging courses, like Honors, AP, and IB. This year also gives the admissions committee a full view of your academic progress and potential, as your senior year grades won’t be available yet.

Extracurriculars

By junior year, you should have a few extracurricular activities to highlight on your application. If you haven’t already, now is the time to gain leadership experience. Campaign for the captain of your sports team. Ask for directorial responsibilities in your theatre program rather than just acting. Run for office within your student government.

Standardized Testing

If you’re applying for Early Decision, you need to get a head start on your test prep and registration. Start studying during the fall of junior year with the goal to take one or both tests during the spring of junior year. This will provide you with several more test dates in case you need to retake to increase your score. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of colleges and decide on Early Decision, do your research to find out if the school is test-optional.

Essays and Personal Statement

Don’t hit the “easy button” on your essays and personal statements. If you’re applying Early Decision, you need to showcase the best – and that is not a recycled essay that you turned in for your AP History course. This is your chance to show why you would be an asset to the school you’re applying to. Talk about your prior experiences in and outside of the classroom in high school, as well as your goals for your collegiate and eventual real-life career. Your essays and personal statement should show how that particular school aligns with everything you have been and everything you will become.

Recommendations

When it comes to letters of recommendation, you need to ask individuals who really know you – but don’t ask Mom and Dad. Instead, ask teachers, coaches, mentors, pastors, or family friends that you’ve had a relationship with for a few years who have seen you grow into the applicant you are today. When you ask them, include your resume so they can speak to your accomplishments and future plans.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Applying Early Decision does not impact your financial aid package in any way, but it does affect your decision-making process. If you apply Early Admissions or Regular Decision, you’re able to compare financial aid packages and negotiate in some instances. When you apply Early Decision, you are committing to the college regardless of merit and financial aid. It’s a gamble, although you can use merit and financial aid calculators to get an estimate of how much you may pay to attend the school.

Options if Aid is Not Enough

You can request a financial aid appeal if you believe that your financial circumstances weren’t accurately presented during the application process or on the FAFSA. Schools can ask for more documentation of your finances and make amendments to your financial aid package. Granted, these unusual circumstances are typically more extreme, like job loss, significant health challenges, and expenses of a family member, or unexpected death. If the financial strain will be too significant for your family, you can withdraw your application. It’s highly unusual, but it does happen. You may be able to withdraw within the application portal. Otherwise, you will need to contact an admissions officer directly to request that your application be withdrawn.

After Submitting Your Early Decision Application

Remember, applying Early Decision does not guarantee acceptance. There are three possible outcomes for your Early Decision application:

If Admitted

If you are admitted Early Decision, you are committed to that college or university. You’ll be asked to submit your deposit and withdraw any applications you have at other institutions.

If Deferred

If you are deferred in Early Decision, it means your application has been moved to the pool of Regular Deadline applications. The admissions committee needs more time to review your application and to see how you compare to other students they wish to admit. Should you fall into this category, you will need to follow the college’s instructions to remain in consideration, notify your school counselor, and continue applying to other institutions.

If Denied

Finally, if you are denied Early Decision, you are free to apply to other colleges. You cannot apply Regular Decision at that particular school.

Early Decision Preparation Checklist

If Early Decision sounds like the right college admissions path for you, download our Early Decision Preparation Checklist so that you can stay on track to meet the deadline:

Early Decision and College Application Resources

Early Decision is a college admissions strategy that many students utilize to gain admission into their dream school. Typically, this is a reach school for them, but colleges tend to admit more students during the Early Decision consideration period than Regular Decision. As such, many Ivy League consultants provide a great deal of resources to help students gain admittance: • Early Decision and Early Action from The CollegeBoard • What is Early Decision in College Admissions? from Crimson Education • Early Decision Works: A Guide to the Early Rounds from IvyWise Another thing to consider in Early Decision is college affordability. Because you won’t be able to compare financial aid packages with other schools if you’re admitted Early Decision, you’ll want to ensure you can afford the college with merit and financial aid. Use the resources below to determine your scholarship potential and financial aid estimates: • Visit the college’s financial aid website and input your information into their Net Price Calculator. They will be able to provide an estimate of merit aid based on your academic performance and test scores. • The Best Financial Aid and Loan Calculators

Early Decision FAQs

• Can I reject an Early Decision if I can’t afford it? While the Early Decision application is a commitment to attend in and of itself, you can withdraw your request for admission if financial circumstances will prevent you from attending the school. • Does Early Decision mean you have to go there? The Early Decision application is a commitment to attend the school if you’re accepted. One component of their application will likely be a signed contract between you and the school agreeing to this commitment. • Does Early Decision increase chances of admission? Typically, Early Decision acceptance rates are higher than the regular acceptance rate. The school wants to admit students who are very interested in attending; therefore, they are more lenient in their decisions. • Do Early Decision applicants get less aid? Early Decision applicants may not receive merit aid; colleges sometimes use merit aid to entice the best candidates. If they think they may receive better applicants in their Regular Decision pool, they may withhold merit aid from some ED applicants to entice better students. Your financial aid amount will be dependent on the information you include on the FAFSA. Your financial disadvantage with this scenario is that you cannot compare financial aid offers between schools and negotiate. • Is Early Decision actually binding? Generally, Early Decision is binding, but students can withdraw their application due to outstanding circumstances, like an inability to afford the college or a family emergency. • Does Early Decision affect financial aid? Students who apply Early Decision will go through the same financial aid process as all other applicants. They will need to submit the FAFSA and any other supplemental financial aid forms the school requires. Aid will be distributed on the basis of financial need and not when they submitted their application for admission. • What is the downside of Early Decision? Early Decision may cost you – literally. You may not receive the merit aid you’d receive at another institution, and you cannot compare financial aid offers from other schools. This is something to consider: is attending this dream school worth the cost of not knowing what you could get from other schools?