Introduction
October is often viewed as the scariest month of the year. While the fear factor is usually attributed to Halloween, for those in your senior year, the real fright is the endless early admission options with deadlines looming just around the corner.
Fear not, though; this article will help you understand the various yet similar-sounding early admissions options. There are only so many jump scares one can handle in a single month 👻
Different Types of Early Admissions
A student may apply to only one university with Early Decision and receive a response within a month. This option is considered binding because if accepted, you must attend, withdraw all other applications, and agree that any financial aid offered is enough.
- Early Decision 1 can be thought of as your “first shot” to apply early. The deadline is typically early/mid-November, and decisions are received in December.
- Early Decision 2 is only different in terms of timeline. Applications are due in January, making this a great option for those of you who want to use winter break to finalize your college list and polish up those essays. Decisions for ED2 are released in February.
While often sharing the early/mid-November deadline, Early Action differs because it’s non-binding. This means that while you get your decision early, in the January/February range, you do not need to decide on a particular school until May 1st. Since it’s non-binding, you can apply Early Action to more than one school.
Only a few elite institutions offer Single Choice Early Action (SCEA), also known as Restrictive Early Action. Similar to Early Action, it’s non-binding, meaning you do not have to commit upon acceptance, but can weigh your options until May 1st. This plan shares the exclusivity of Early Decision, as you can apply to only one school using SCEA. Certain SCEA schools also restrict other early admission applications, so always double-check school-specific policies.
For example, Stanford’s REA policy prevents students from applying Early Action and Decision to other private universities and Early Decision to any public university. In terms of timelines, SCEA applications are due in November, and decisions roll out a month later.
Why Schools Love Early Applications
The Bottom Line: Early admissions help colleges fill seats with committed applicant while helping manage workload and institutional metrics for their admissions teams.
NOTE: statistics found in this article are found via the Common Data Set that's published annually for each school. If you're curious and want a deeper dive, you can find the respective CDS' linked to Harvard, Tulane, and Amherst here)
Three Key Reasons:
- Guaranteed Enrollment (ED only): Binding Early Decision locks in students, boosting yield rates—a key metric of institutional prestige. Schools like Harvard and MIT maintain 70-85% yield rates, and ED helps other less selective schools stay competitive.
- Demonstrated Interest: Students applying early signal genuine commitment to the particular institution. Typically its the more motivated applicants (i.e. legacy students or athletes) who tackle essays and applications months before deadlines.
- Financial Predictability (ED only): ED applicants commit before comparing financial aid packages, making them more likely to pay full tuition. This disproportionately benefits higher-income students who don't need to weigh financial offers.
Why Students Apply Early
The Real Benefits:
Peace of Mind: Know your outcome by December instead of waiting until March/April. Having certainty earlier reduces senior year stress significantly.
Strategic Flexibility:
- If accepted: You're done! Time to research dorms, classes, and opportunities.
- If deferred/denied: You still have 1-2 months to pivot and strengthen your Regular Decision strategy.
Demonstrated Interest (ED specifically): Binding commitment is the ultimate way to show a school they're your #1 choice—and schools notice.
Potential Scholarship Priority: Some schools allocate merit aid and grants earlier in the cycle, giving early applicants first access before funds thin out later.
The "Higher Acceptance Rates" Reality Check
Yes, the numbers look better—but here's what they don't tell you:
Three Factors That Inflate Early Acceptance Rates:
- Self-Selection: Students don't "waste" their one ED opportunity on reaches they think are impossible. Early pools naturally contain stronger, better-matched candidates.
- Special Admission Advantages: Legacy students or athletic recruits are heavily encouraged to apply early, and they're admitted at much higher rates. This skews the overall early acceptance statistics upward.
- Resource Access: Early applicants often have college counselors, educated parents, or consultants guiding them—meaning the pool is often more prepared and submit stronger applications as a result.
Translation: Higher early acceptance rates often reflect who's applying, not just the advantage of applying early itself.
The Strategic Sweet Spot
Where Early Decision offers the clearest advantage: Schools ranked 15-50 nationally, where binding commitments meaningfully help institutions manage yield and build their class.
Where it matters less: Ultra-elite schools (top 10) and schools with non-binding Early Action—the statistical edge is smaller.
The One Thing to Remember: the early admissions rate doesn't reflect YOUR individual chances of admission to the school!
Context matters. Tulane's 68% ED rate and Dartmouth's 21% ED rate both show early advantages—but they represent completely different institutional strategies and applicant experiences.
Use the statistics to inform your strategy, but take it with a pound of salt otherwise you may be setting yourself up with false confidence!
When to Pause on Early Applications
The Core Question: Are you applying early because you genuinely love this school, or because you're anxious about "missing your shot"?
Four Potential Warning Signs:
⚠️ Your Essays Aren't Ready: If your essays are still multiple drafts away from truly representing you (aka passing the VIBE Check), wait. Rushed essays for early deadlines won't impress admissions officers—polished Regular Decision applications beat mediocre early ones.
⚠️ You're Not Sure This Is Your School: Early Decision is legally binding. If you're "on the fence" (which is totally normal!), that's your answer: apply Regular Decision or consider Early Decision II in January. Don't lock yourself in out of fear.
⚠️ You're Still Improving Test Scores: Retaking the SAT/ACT in December or later? Those improved scores won't help your early application. Wait for Regular Decision to show your best academic profile.
⚠️ You Need to Compare Financial Aid: Early Decision requires commitment before seeing other schools' aid packages. If comparing costs matters to your family, ED removes that option. (Exception: If you've thoroughly researched the school's aid programs and discussed affordability with your family first, ED can still work.)
When Early Applications May Make More Sense
When you can honestly say:
✅ "This is genuinely my top choice school—I've visited/researched extensively and can articulate specific reasons why"
✅ "My application materials (essays, test scores, activities list) are polished and represent my best self"
✅ "I've discussed finances with my family, and we understand the commitment" (for ED)
✅ "I want the focus and momentum of having a decision earlier—regardless of the statistical advantage"
Early applications work best when they reflect genuine readiness and authentic interest—not fear of missing statistical advantages.
The students who benefit most from early applications:
- Know exactly why a specific school fits their goals
- Have polished materials ready to submit
- Want certainty and focus during senior year
- Understand the financial/binding implications (for ED)
Everyone else? Regular Decision isn't settling—it's strategic. You'll have more time to craft compelling applications, compare aid packages, and make thoughtful decisions.
Remember: There's a clear distinction between admission rates and your individual application/admission chances. A strong Regular Decision application to the right school beats a rushed early application to the "safe strategic choice."
The Takeaway
Whether Early Decision or Early Action is right for you depends on your circumstances and goals. Use the links sprinkled throughout this article to start your research into what admission plan would be best for you—look into the specific admission policies for each of your prospective schools and note how they approach early applications, or if that is even an option. Talk with your family about finances if you’re thinking about Early Decision. Then, take a step back and evaluate where you are in the application process: Are your essays ready? Are your test scores where you want them to be? Do you feel confident in your Early Decision school?
For many students, applying early can be a great way to demonstrate interest, receive an earlier decision, and, in some cases, increase their chances of admission. For others, waiting until Regular Decision allows more time to polish essays, improve test scores, or explore different college options.
Speaking from my experience, I applied Early Decision to a school I had only recently discovered because I worried that I would miss my “golden ticket” if I didn’t ED somewhere. When I was deferred from Wellesley College, my initial disappointment quickly faded into relief. This deferment allowed me to thoughtfully weigh my options, giving me the chance to find a school that matched my interests and goals. But, for many students, Early Decision can be exactly the right choice, providing focus and momentum in an otherwise overwhelming process.
If you’re considering an early plan, take the time to reflect, plan ahead, and make sure the choice aligns with both your aims and your readiness. Whether you apply early or not, what’s most important is making a thoughtful decision that feels right for you and will set you up for success.
