General advice for applying Early Decision II to colleges?

For a high school junior considering applying ED II, what general tips or advice would you all suggest? I'm looking into multiple schools and want to know what stands out in applications during this round.

Sure, I'd be happy to share some guidance on applying Early Decision II (ED II)!

1. Make Sure It's Your First Choice: ED II, like ED I, is a binding agreement. You should only apply ED II to a school if you're absolutely sure it's your top preference and you're committed to attending if accepted.

2. Understand Financial Aid: As part of a binding agreement, you must understand the financial implications. Use each school's net price calculator to get an idea of the possible financial aid package you might receive. Even though you can back out of the ED agreement due to inadequate financial aid, it's important to know what you could potentially be agreeing to.

3. Illustrate Commitment: Admissions officers should get a sense throughout your application—essays, recommendations, and elsewhere—that you're enthusiastic about the university and would thrive on their campus. They love to accept students who they know would love to attend.

4. Strong Academics and Extracurriculars: Your academic profile should match or exceed the typical profile of an admitted student at your ED II school. Note that highly selective schools want students with a highly-developed specialty, also known as a “spike,” not just generally “well-rounded” applicants.

5. Essays and Recommendations Matter: Your recommendation letters should reveal more about your engagement, leadership, and other qualities. Essays that specifically address why the ED II school is a good fit for you and vice versa are also crucial.

6. Finish Strong in First Semester: Many ED II schools will see your first semester senior year grades before making an admissions decision, so it's important to keep your academic performance strong.

7. Be Prepared: Make sure all components of your application (essays, recommendation letters, transcripts, test scores if relevant, etc.) are polished and ready to be sent off on time.

8. Have a Backup Plan: Even though you should be optimistic, be prepared for all eventualities. Regular Decision deadlines fall at around the same time as ED II deadlines, so have your applications ready for other schools as well. Don't put all your eggs in one basket!

Good luck with your application process!