Early Decision is not for everyone. Below are some very important points you should consider.

1. Applying Early Decision means, if accepted, the student will enroll at that college. The decision is binding which means that the student must withdraw all other applications that have been submitted to other colleges and make no subsequent applications.

2. A student should only opt for Early Decision if s/he has visited the preferred school and a number of others.

3. Early Decision should be discussed in detail with your counselor. This decision must be well thought out and carefully considered.

4. The only way to nullify an Early Decision commitment is if the financial package is insufficient; however this may not leave the student with much time to apply to other colleges.

5. A student must request his/her Teacher Recommendations in the spring of the junior year if s/he intends to apply to college on an Early Decision plan.

DISADVANTAGES TO APPLYING EARLY DECISION:

1. Early Decision does not allow for any change if a senior has a change of preference or ideas for majors.

2. By agreeing to attend the college if accepted, the student is giving up the opportunity to compare financial aid award letters from other colleges that accept him/her. The student is also giving up the bargaining position. The Early Decision route is a risk for a family with moderate or high financial need.

3. The student applying Early Decision should have applications to other colleges "ready to go" in the event of a deferral decision, rejection decision, or insufficient financial aid. While getting admitted early can reduce stress, the impact of an Early Decision deferral or rejection letter can be very stressful to the student..

ADVANTAGES TO APPLYING EARLY DECISION:

1. Applying Early Decision is a way of sending a strong message to that college that "this is my definite first choice".

2. It can save time, energy, and the cost of filling out more applications.

Note: There is a widely held perception that applying via Early Decision (ED) will help a student gain acceptance to a college; however, this is not always the case. If a college is a "statistical reach" for a student as a "Regular Decision" applicant (i.e., few or no applicants to that colleges with a similar GPA and test scores get accepted), then it will still be a "reach" as an ED applicant.

While this should be a well thought out and individual decision, here are a few of Rules of Thumb (not hard and fast rules) to consider:

1.) Is the College an absolute first choice?

2.) Is the college at least a "Possible," a "50/50," or a "Probable? for you? If so, an ED application MIGHT tip the balance in your favor.

3.) What percentage of the freshmen class at that college gets filled with ED applicants? If a college is filling a third to half of its freshman class with ED admits, then they are not leaving a lot of room for Regular Decision applicants.