If you’ve already been looking at which universities you want to apply to, you’ll notice at least two deadlines. One says regular decision, the other says early decision (this is different from early admission). There are some great benefits of early decision over regular decision.
Early decision means you apply to a university early (before the regular deadline) and get a decision early. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind if you are considering early decision:
As part of an early decision application, you agree to go to that university if you get in. So, the early decision is binding. Apply to UMass Boston early decision but get into Harvard as part of regular decision? Too bad, you’re going to UMass.
Early means early. You have to submit ALL you materials, including test scores and recommendations by the deadline (usually the beginning of November). If you haven’t masterminded the whole application process well before the deadline, forget about it.
Our recommendation is to pick one stretch (top) school from your shortlist and apply early decision. If you’re organized, there are some great benefits to applying early decision:
You get a jump start on the application process.
If you’re applying through the Common App, you will have completed almost everything (remember to check for school supplements) within the system, making it super easy to apply to other universities.
You’ll know whether you got in before other top uni deadlines (usually by December).
Early decision applicants are told first whether they got in. So, apply early means you have time to choose other great universities (before their January 1st deadlines) if you don’t get into your top university.
You’ll have completed almost everything for non-Common App universities as well.
University of California (UC) and Texas schools have their own version of the Common App, along with super early deadlines. The application for UC schools is already open (since August 1st) but closes on November 30th, about 2 months before most other universities.
These benefits of early decision are huge and we always recommend to students working with us for the whole application process that they select one university to apply to early decision. It makes everything so much easier and gives you time to adjust if there are any problems. For example, one of the teachers you asked to write a recommendation tells you “the dog ate her homework.”
Get in early and bring on the SENIORITIS!
Need help applying for early decision?
If you’re going to apply for Early Decision, you should have already taken the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and gotten (or be getting) your recommendations. If not, Whatsapp us or send an email to eden@apply-me.com so we can help you through the process. We’ve got comprehensive packages that will make the process headache-free.
