“Early Decision” II Deadlines Coming Soon

Procrastination is never wise – and that is particularly true when it comes time to apply to colleges.  Students with a top choice college that offers “early decision” ideally met the November 1st (or in some cases, November 15th) application deadline. These students usually have a considerable advantage over regular applicants because, in applying early decision, they guarantee the college that they will attend, if accepted. (Financial strain is the only exception.)  Since most high school students apply to several colleges, it’s extremely helpful to colleges to identify those students who will definitely enroll – and pay tuition – if accepted.

Students who apply early decision usually hear back from colleges by mid-December as to whether or not they were accepted.  Good news can make the holidays a joyful time as families celebrate that the anxiety-ridden college application process is over.

But often times students who apply early decision are waitlisted, or deferred, by the college.  This means that their application has been put in the pool with all other applicants and they will be notified by the regular notification date, which is typically April 1st.  Students who are waitlisted are no longer bound to attend the college, even if accepted later on.

The good news for students is that many colleges offer Early Decision II. College bound students who have just recently identified their top choice college, as well as those who were deferred or rejected from their Early Decision I college, can still benefit by promising their newly discovered favorite school that they will attend if accepted.  Many ED II colleges have a New Year’s Day deadline and notify applicants of their status by February 15th.  Colleges with this time frame that are popular with New Jersey students include The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), New York University (NYU), Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, George Washington University in Washington DC, and Tufts University just outside of Boston, MA.

While it’s great to get good news early, and enticing to get off the college admissions carousel, students should recognize that they are making a binding commitment and only apply Early Decision to a college that is truly the college of their dreams.

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.