What does Early Decision 1 and 2 mean for college applications?

I'm trying to figure out the difference between Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2 for college applications. How do they affect my chances of getting in, and how are they different from regular decision applications?

Early Decision (ED) is a college application process in which a student who applies commits to attend that school if they are admitted. This is a binding agreement, meaning you'll need to withdraw all other school applications if you're admitted through ED.

ED typically comes in two rounds: Early Decision 1 (ED1) and Early Decision 2 (ED2). The difference between ED1 and ED2 is mainly the application deadlines and notification dates. ED1 deadlines are typically in early to mid-November, with notification dates in mid-December. On the other hand, ED2 deadlines are usually in early to mid-January with notification dates in mid-February.

In terms of how they affect your chances, applying ED can boost your acceptance odds. According to data, applying ED often results in a meaningful increase in your chances of admission at many schools. On average, applying ED is going to result in a 1.6x or a 60% increase in your chances of admission to super selective schools. So, if your chances before choosing to apply early were at 4%, that could bump your chances up to 6.4%. This is because ED applicants demonstrate a high level of interest in the school by committing to attend if admitted.

However, it's essential to remember that you should only apply ED to a school if you're 100% certain you want to attend, as it is a binding agreement. Applying ED should not be used as a strategy to increase your chances at a school you don't genuinely want to attend. I've seen students regret applying ED because they received acceptances from other schools they later realized they preferred.

In comparison, Regular Decision (RD) applications are non-binding. They have later deadlines (usually January 1 or 15) and admission decisions are typically released in late March or early April. You'll have until May 1 to decide which school to attend. Your acceptance rate through RD does tend to be lower because a portion of the class has already been filled with ED and EA (Early Action) applicants, but it still leaves you with the most flexibility and choices.

To summarize, the main differences between ED and RD are the application deadlines, the point at which you hear back, the rate of acceptance, and the fact that ED is a binding agreement whereas RD is not.