ED Date Confusion - Explain?

Hey guys! I keep hearing people mention an 'ED date' when talking about college applications. I'm not sure what that means though, can someone please explain it to me? Please and thank you!

Hello! "ED" stands for Early Decision, which is an early application deadline offered by some colleges and universities. When you apply under the Early Decision plan, you're committing to attend the school if you're accepted, meaning you agree to withdraw all other college applications once you receive your acceptance.

The ED date is the deadline to submit your early decision application. It typically falls in November, but the specific date can vary depending on the college. For most colleges with Early Decision, the decision notification is usually in mid-December. Applying ED can potentially increase your chances of admission as schools know you're committed to attending, and they can secure their enrollment numbers. However, it's crucial to keep in mind that ED is binding, so you should only apply in this manner if you're confident that the school is the right fit for you both academically and financially.

It's worth noting that there's also an Early Action (EA) admissions plan, which is non-binding and allows you to apply early to for a decision while not being committed to attending that specific school if you are accepted. Deadlines and decision dates for EA are typically similar to ED dates but can vary among different institutions.

To summarize, the "ED date" is the deadline for submitting an Early Decision application. If you're sure about your top-choice school and believe that it's the right fit for you, it might be an advantageous option to consider. However, don't forget to research your chosen school's specific deadline as it can vary. Good luck with your college applications!