Should I choose early decision or regular for my college applications?

I'm feeling a bit torn between applying early decision or waiting for regular for my top choice school. Are there significant advantages to going with early decision, or is it better to play it safe with regular?

It really depends on your situation as both methods have their pros and cons. But yes, applying Early Decision (ED) can offer some advantages.

One significant advantage of applying ED is that it tends to increase your chances of getting accepted. On average, applying ED results in a 60% increase in your chances of admission at super selective schools. This effect becomes less pronounced the less selective the school is. In other words, if you have a 4% chance of getting accepted before applying ED, choosing to apply ED could increase that to roughly 6.4%.

Another advantage of applying ED is that if you are accepted, you'll know your college decision much earlier—typically by mid-December. This can relieve a lot of stress and give you more time to plan for your future.

However, ED isn't entirely without risks. ED is binding, which means if you are accepted through ED, you're obligated to attend the school (unless the financial aid offered is not adequate). Therefore, you should only apply ED to a school you're absolutely sure about. You should also use the net price calculator on the school's website to confirm that the estimated cost is within your family's budget.

On the other hand, Regular Decision gives you more freedom to choose between colleges, as it’s non-binding. It allows you to apply to multiple schools and decide among their offers after all have been made. However, the acceptance rates are generally lower in this round than in ED.

So, to sum up, ED can be a great choice if you are absolutely certain about your first-choice school and you believe that you can afford it, even with a less-than-optimal financial aid package. Otherwise, Regular Decision might be the better choice.