early decision Archives

Colleges That Offer Early Decision 2 (ED2) — 2025-26

Early Decision is quickly becoming a misnomer. An increasing number of highly selective institutions have initiated a second round of binding admission programs, giving students another chance to commit to a college before acceptance and possibly reap admissions-related benefits in the process. Unlike traditional Early Decision (ED 1) programs...

Should I Apply Early Action?

The average applicant is fully aware of Early Decision as a “card to play” in the admissions game. In that arrangement, each party makes a concession—you, the applicant, give up your free-agency status, and the college, in many cases, grants a borderline candidate slightly better odds at receiving an...

Making the most of your Early Decision “card”

The glamorization of the million-to-one chance is deeply engrained in the American ethos. From Rocky Balboa becoming heavyweight champ to The Golden Ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we are taught to believe that good fortune just might happen in spite of infinitesimal odds. Every time the Powerball...

Early Decision: What Every Student Needs to Know Before Applying

Early Decision (ED) is one of the most debated strategies in college admissions. For some students, it’s a powerful tool for locking in an acceptance at a dream school. For others, it brings calm and certainty to a stressful senior year. But early decision college admissions is not a...