What is Early Decision 2 for College?

I'm considering Early Decision 2 for some schools. What exactly is the ED2 process, and how does it differ from Regular Decision or even Early Decision 1?

Early Decision II (ED2) is a second round of binding early decision offered by some colleges. It functions largely like the first Early Decision (ED1), but the deadlines are usually later, typically in early or mid-January. Like ED1, if you apply ED2 and are accepted, it entails a commitment to enroll in that college.

What sets ED2 apart quite distinctly though is that it provides students who didn’t get accepted to their ED1 schools with another opportunity to signal high interest and commitment to another institution. Additionally, it's also beneficial if you identify a first choice later in the application process, beyond the ED1 deadlines, and wish to demonstrate a strong level of interest in that community.

In terms of impact on admission odds, on average, applying Early Decision (either ED1 or ED2) generally leads to a notable boost in acceptance rates. This, however, can vary across schools and is just an average effect, so the actual benefit can sometimes be smaller or larger. It's also worth noting that the financial aid process might be faster for ED2 since it aligns closely with financial aid deadlines.

Finally, Early Decision II differs from Regular Decision in two main ways: the admission odds and the commitment to enroll. Regular Decision is non-binding; you can apply to as many schools as you want, and if you're accepted, you can choose to enroll or not. However, ED2, like ED1, requires a commitment to attend the school if accepted.

That said, it's crucial to remember that you should only apply to a school via Early Decision (whether it's EDI or EDII) if you're certain that that school is your top choice and if you've run the school's Net Price Calculator and are comfortable with the estimated cost.