Students get a Second Chance at “Early Decision”

Students who have gotten bad news in recent days from their Early Decision college – either being turned down or being waitlisted – should know that all hope is not lost.  They still have another option, which could bring them exciting news and get them off the college application merry-go-round, early in the new year.

Many colleges offer Early Decision II, with a January application deadline and notification in February – close to two months prior to the typical April 1st college response date. The main advantage of applying early decision, in addition to getting an early response, is that colleges usually accept a much higher percentage of early decision applicants.  Because early decision is binding, colleges know that any students they accept will definitely attend – increasing their “yield” (percentage of accepted students who enroll). The main downfall of applying early decision is the fact that it is binding, preventing students from comparing different financial aid packages that they might receive from different colleges. 

Students seeking the benefits of ED II need to get their applications, and all supporting materials (SAT scores, transcripts, recommendation letters), submitted promptly.  The ED II deadlines for many schools popular with New Jersey students are rapidly approaching. The deadline is January 1st at Boston University, Lehigh University, New York University (NYU), Northeastern University, Syracuse University, Tufts University, University of Miami and University of Richmond.  

January 15th is the ED II deadline at American University, Bucknell University, Franklin & Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Lafayette College, College of the Holy Cross and Case Western Reserve University.

Colleges in New Jersey that offer ED II are The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) with a January 1st application deadline, and Drew University and Stevens Institute of Technology, both with a January 15th deadline.

While it’s great to get good news early, and enticing to get off the college admissions carousel, students should only apply early decision to a college that is truly the college of their dreams.

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