What's the Early Decision acceptance rate for Columbia?

I'm thinking about applying to Columbia through Early Decision, but I'm a bit stressed about my chances. Does anyone know the acceptance rate for Columbia's ED applicants compared to Regular Decision? Is it significantly higher? Thanks in advance!

The Early Decision acceptance rate for Columbia University is typically higher than the Regular Decision acceptance rate. Although the acceptance rates can vary from year to year, in recent years, Columbia's ED acceptance rate has ranged from around 10% to 25%. Comparatively, the RD acceptance rate has dipped to below 5%. So, the difference in acceptance rates for ED and RD applicants is indeed significant, although ED is still a highly competitive process.

However, keep in mind that applying ED is a binding agreement, so you should only apply through this option if you are certain that Columbia is your top choice and you are comfortable with the financial commitment. Columbia is known to have generous financial aid policies, and if their package is truly insufficient, that is one of the only legitimate reasons you can withdraw from your ED commitment. That process can be stressful, though, and you have to deal with the heartbreak of telling your dream school no after being accepted, so it's best to avoid all of that if possible.

Additionally, while ED applicants tend to have a higher chance of being accepted, it's important to remember that Columbia uses a holistic review process for applications. Your acceptance will depend on more than just test scores and grades; the admissions committee will also consider your extracurricular activities, essays, recommendations, and other factors that showcase your potential.

Be sure to present your best case for admission by putting effort into every aspect of your application, as ultimately, that is what will determine your personal chances of acceptance, not the round in which you apply. If you're looking for guidance on how to tackle Columbia's school-specific supplemental essays, which are often the difference-makers in highly selective schools' admissions processes, you can find breakdowns of the current prompts on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-columbia-university-essays/.

Overall, applying Early Decision can provide a slight admissions advantage, but it's essential that you only use this option if you are sure about your decision and also have a strong, well-rounded application. Best of luck with your application to Columbia!