What's the catch with Swarthmore's Early Decision II?

I'm thinking about applying Early Decision II to Swarthmore College and am curious about the pros and cons. Can anyone share their experiences or knowledge about it? Is it really as binding as I've heard, and how's the acceptance rate?

Swarthmore College's Early Decision II is indeed a binding kind of application, which means that if you are accepted, you're expected to attend and withdraw all your other college applications immediately. This applies to both ED I and ED II and this applies to most colleges with similar early decision programs.

In terms of acceptance rate, Swarthmore’s ED acceptance rate is often higher than the regular decision acceptance rate. This could partially be due to the college’s ability to measure the applicants’ keen interest to attend. However, keep in mind, that students who apply ED are often high-achieving students committed to Swarthmore, so it's not strictly easier to be accepted.

Pros of applying ED II include showing your genuine interest in the college, which may increase the odds of acceptance. Plus, you'll have longer to build up your application and demonstrate continued achievement in your senior year than you would if you applied ED I.

However, the cons include the binding nature of an ED acceptance, giving you less flexibility if your situation changes or if you're accepted to a different college that you'd prefer. Also, it might impact your ability to compare and negotiate financial aid offers.

Before you decide to apply via the Early Decision II route, make sure you have researched Swarthmore thoroughly and are sure it is your number one choice. You should have also discussed the financial implications with your family, and you could use Swarthmore's net price calculator to estimate potential financial aid.

Remember that making a decision on where to apply early is a balancing act. It has to feel right for you, and there should be a good fit in terms of academics, campus life, career aspirations, and your financial situation.