Does applying early decision actually improve your chances?

I've been hearing that applying early decision can help increase your chances of getting into a certain college, but I'm not sure if this is true or just a myth. Does anyone have insight on whether applying early decision actually makes a difference? I'm considering applying early decision to a competitive school and I'm not sure if it's worth it. Thanks for any help!

Hi there! From my experience with my own child's college application process, applying early decision can improve your chances of admission at some colleges. It's important to first understand how the specific school you're interested in treats early decision applicants. Some schools have a higher acceptance rate for early decision applicants compared to the regular decision pool, while others may not show significant difference.

For example, my child applied early decision to a competitive school and was accepted - the acceptance rate was notably higher for early decision applicants at that particular college. Applying early decision does show the school that they are your top choice, but make sure you understand the financial aid implications and are fully committed to attending if accepted. I hope that helps you make your decision. Best of luck!