I'm trying to decide if applying Early Decision is a good idea for me. Can someone please tell me if it is binding or not? Thanks!
Yes, Early Decision (ED) is a binding application process. By choosing to apply Early Decision to a school, you're committing to attend that institution if you're accepted. If you're accepted through ED, you'll need to withdraw your applications to other colleges or universities and enroll at the institution that accepted you Early Decision.
You should only apply Early Decision to a school if it is your top choice because of this binding commitment. However, one exception to the ED binding agreement is if the financial aid package offered by the school is insufficient for you to attend. In this case, you can discuss your situation with the school, and it may be possible to be released from the Early Decision agreement. To avoid financial aid issues, it's a good idea to use the school's net price calculator before applying ED to make sure the estimated aid meets your needs.
Applying Early Decision can potentially increase your chances of admission as colleges often admit a higher percentage of students through the ED process compared to Regular Decision. Just keep in mind the binding nature of the commitment and make sure you are ready to accept a place at the school if you are admitted.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.