Kenyon College Early Decision II

I'm considering applying Early Decision II to Kenyon College but I'm not sure about the advantages. Can anyone share how ED II might increase my chances compared to regular decision, and what factors I should consider before committing?

Applying Early Decision II to Kenyon could indeed offer some advantages over Regular Decision. Historically, colleges can have a higher acceptance rate for Early Decision (ED) rounds compared to Regular Decision (RD).

One reason is that by applying ED II, you're demonstrating a high level of commitment to the school. You're basically telling Kenyon, "You are my top choice, and I will attend if admitted." Many colleges, including Kenyon, value this show of definitive interest.

However, there are important considerations to keep in mind with ED II as well. First, it's a binding decision: if you get accepted, you are expected to attend, and to withdraw all your other college applications. Therefore, be sure that Kenyon is absolutely your top choice and that it suits all your academic and extracurricular interests.

Additionally, consider the financial aspect. Early decision schools will provide some form of financial aid package, but since it's a binding decision, you have less opportunity to compare financial aid offers from different schools. To avoid surprises, you can use Kenyon's net price calculator to estimate what you might pay.

Lastly, make sure your application is as strong as it can be. If your mid-year grades are higher than those on your transcript, or you're awaiting the result of a major competition, you might want to go for Regular Decision to include these results.

In essence, if Kenyon is your top choice and you're ready with your best application, ED II could be a good option with potential advantages over the regular decision. Make sure you've done your research, and you're comfortable with the binding nature of Early Decision, and the possible financial implications.