What Is Early Decision?
An early decision is one in which students commit to attending a school if admitted. This is a binding application. So, if you apply ED to an Ivy League school and get an offer, you have to withdraw all your other college applications and commit to going. The ED deadlines typically fall early November, and the result usually comes back mid-December.Ivy League colleges tend to draw a large portion of their freshman class from ED applicants. A few of the Ivy League colleges, including Brown, Columbia, and Cornell, admit a higher percentage of ED applicants than in Regular Decision. The earlier timeline allows schools to receive a guaranteed block of students who have already demonstrated a great deal of interest, which can be an attractive draw for the admissions offices at Ivy League schools. However, with this comes a higher level of selectivity: ED candidates are expected to present strong academic and extracurricular profiles.
Advantages of Early Decision for Ivy League Admission
Ivy League schools generally have a higher acceptance rate for ED applicants compared to Regular Decision applicants. This is primarily because ED applicants are a more selective group, as students who apply early tend to have more exceptional profiles. As schools want to fill their classes with committed students, they tend to favor ED applicants who are both academically strong and have demonstrated a genuine commitment to attending.Applying ED is advantageous for students who are certain about their top-choice Ivy League school. A school with a higher acceptance rate through ED reflects the willing nature of schools to make commitments to students who would reciprocate by doing the same. ED provides the opportunity for students to confirm their spot earlier rather than later, thus doing away with the stress carried all through senior year.
RD deadlines occur early in January, but the results appear by the end of March or at the beginning of April. While ED is binding, RD is non-binding, and the student can apply to several schools and choose the best from those acceptances. Though the advantage of applying ED will not be exactly the same, applying RD gives you the opportunity to compare the financial aid packages and balance other choices, which are also excellent features.
It gives applicants more time to make their applications stronger-whether that is through a better test score, a revised grade report, or new accomplishments. This could be very helpful for those applicants who don't have their application together by the ED deadline. Additionally, RD allows applicants to remain open-ended, not closing the door on one college before getting a sense of all available options.
What's the Best Choice for Ivy League Applicants?
It all largely depends on the individual to make a decision between Early Decision and Regular Decision. In case one is absolutely certain about one of the Ivy League colleges and is already ready to send out the competitive application by November, ED increases chances. Otherwise, when there is an urgent need for more time to add weight to your application, or one likes to consider various offers in hand before finally settling, RD proves to be a better bet.Ultimately, while ED may give you an admissions edge, it is a strategic decision that you must make. You should weigh readiness of your application, commitment level, and financial considerations before making this decision. In a good application, either route takes you toward your goals in getting into an Ivy League school.