Should I apply Early Decision II?

I'm considering applying to a few colleges through Early Decision II, but I'm not sure if it's the best move. Does applying ED II increase chances significantly compared to the regular decision? Any insight would be helpful!

It's important to remember that Early Decision (ED) II differs from Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD) in that it is binding – if admitted, you commit to attend that college. It should be reserved for a college that is undoubtedly your top choice, where you're thrilled to go not just academically but also financially. As you're contemplating ED II, make sure you've thoroughly researched the college, its culture, academic programs, the cost, and you're satisfied with all those factors.

Now, as for the boost in admission probability, applying ED II does typically increase your chances of admission. Even after controlling for profile strength, on average, applying Early Decision (be it ED I or ED II) is thought to increase odds by 1.6x, though this benefit is smaller for less selective colleges. So if your chances of admittance during the RD round were, say, 10%, applying ED II would generally bump your chances up to 16%.

Certain colleges can see a dramatic spike in admission rates for their ED II applicants as opposed to RD, but it can vary. Checking out the college's past ED II acceptance rates could be a useful gauge--though use those numbers as a springboard, not a guarantee. Do bear in mind though, this should ideally be done only for a college you're most inclined towards.