I'm trying to figure out the pros and cons of regular decision versus early decision for college. What are the main differences and how should I decide which is best for me?
Applying Regular Decision (RD) and Early Decision (ED) each have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Early Decision is a binding process, which means if you're accepted, you're obligated to enroll in that school, unless the financial aid package is insufficient. The upside is that applying Early Decision often comes with a higher acceptance rate, as it demonstrates strong interest to the school.
On average, applying ED will give you a boost that results in about a 1.6x or a 60% increase in your chances of admission to super selective schools. The downside is you'll have less time to complete your application, as ED deadlines are usually in early November. Also, you'll not be able to compare financial aid offers from different colleges.
Regular Decision, on the other hand, gives you more time to work on your application, as these deadlines are typically in early January. Applying RD allows you to apply to multiple schools and then decide once you've heard back from all of them around April. By this time, you'll know your financial aid package from each school and can choose a school based on the best package that meets your financial needs.
In order to decide which is the best for you, consider the following factors:
1. Selectivity: If your dream school is highly selective, applying ED might increase your chances of getting in. However, if you're not 100% sure about attending this school, then RD might be the better choice.
2. Timing: Do you need the extra time to polish your application that comes with an RD deadline? If you can present a strong application by November, that’s a point in favor of ED.
3. Financial Aid: If receiving a strong financial aid offer is important to you, then you might want to apply RD so you can compare aid packages from multiple schools.
Just remember that ED should really only be used when you've firmly decided that a college is your first-choice school. Good luck with your decision!
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