What are ED 2 schools?

I've been hearing about this ED 2 term a lot recently, especially now during application season. Can someone help me understand what ED 2 schools are and why someone might choose to apply ED 2?

ED 2, or Early Decision II, is an application option offered by certain colleges and universities, that functions similarly to the Early Decision (ED) policy - a binding agreement that if accepted, you will attend that school.

What differentiates ED 2 from the traditional ED is the timeline. While Early Decision usually has a deadline in November and you hear back by mid-December, Early Decision II has a later deadline, typically in January, and decisions are usually sent out in February. This allows students an opportunity to apply early to a college even after the typical Early Decision deadlines have passed.

Why do students choose ED 2? There could be several reasons:

1. They were not admitted to their first-choice school via the ED or Early Action process and have a second-choice school they are equally passionate about.

2. They need more time, perhaps to boost their grades during the first semester of senior year, prepare a stronger application, or explore different schools before deciding on an ED commitment.

3. They missed the initial ED deadlines due to any number of complications but are prepared to make a binding commitment to a college.

As the acceptance rates are generally higher for learners who apply ED or ED 2 compared to regular decision, this option can be advisable for those who have a clear first-choice school and their academic, financial, and personal circumstances align with the decision. However, because of the binding aspect of ED 2, it's important for students to consider their options carefully and, ideally, to have a conversation with their high school counselor or a trusted mentor before taking this step.