What You Need to Know About Early Decision I and II in College Admission
In the frenzied world of college applications, students are best served by making many flexible plans and backup plans…and then making backup plans for their backup plans. Early Decision—a binding agreement where students are obligated to attend a school if accepted—can play an important role in your college application strategy.
Early Decision applications can decrease both the stress of waiting for admission decisions and the time and money spent applying to college. Knowing the difference between Early Decision I (ED I) and Early Decision II (ED II) and including them both in your application planning process could mean the difference between a successful application process or not.
What’s the difference between ED I and ED II?
The key difference between Early Decision I and Early Decision II is timing. ED I deadlines typically fall around early November, with admission decisions released in mid-December. ED II deadlines, on the other hand, can fall anytime between December and February, with decisions typically released in mid-to-late February. Both ED I and II are binding agreements, acting like a contract between the student and the college. This differs from Early Action admission, which is non-binding and allows students to apply to multiple schools without committing to a specific one if they get accepted.
If you’re rejected during ED I at a particular school, you cannot reapply to that same school during ED II; however, you can apply ED II to a different school. If you’re deferred during ED I, your application will typically be considered again in the Regular Decision round, but you also have the option to apply ED II to another college in the meantime. This flexibility can help you recalibrate your application strategy if your ED I decision wasn’t in your favor.
Why do colleges offer all these different admission deadlines?
Colleges offer multiple deadlines for admission to accommodate a wide range of applicant needs and preferences. Early Decision deadlines allow schools to secure a portion of their incoming class early, often including highly motivated students who have demonstrated a strong interest in their institution. Plus, providing multiple options gives students a little more time to decide or refine their list of top-choice schools. Regular Decision, however, remains the most accessible option for those who prefer flexibility or can’t commit to a college without knowing how much financial aid they may receive.
Benefits of Early Decision II planning and timing
Colleges and universities begin releasing ED I results in mid-December, but waiting until then to plan your ED II application could be too late. Since most ED II deadlines occur in early to mid-January, it’s wise to plan for these early applications alongside your Regular Decision applications, ensuring you have enough time to meet all deadlines.
Applying to a college Early Decision could significantly enhance your chances of admission. For instance, during the 2022–2023 admission cycle, Northwestern University accepted 22% of its ED applicants compared to just 7% through Regular Decision. This trend is common among selective institutions because ED applicants often demonstrate a strong commitment to the school, which is highly valued in the admission process. Since Regular Decision deadlines often fall at the same time as ED II deadlines, consider applying via ED II to your top-choice school to potentially increase your chances of acceptance.
How to choose the right college for early decision
Deciding where to apply Early Decision is a significant commitment, both emotionally and financially. Since you can only apply ED to one school, your choice should reflect a combination of factors:
- Fit: Does the school align with your academic, social, professional, and personal goals?
- Finances: Can you realistically afford the college, even if financial aid doesn’t meet your expectations?
- Passion: Is that college your clear first choice, and are you certain about committing without comparing offers from other schools?
Take the time to research the college thoroughly, considering both objective factors like programs and costs as well as subjective feelings like campus vibe during visits.
Colleges with Early Decision II deadlines
So you don’t miss a date for the college of your dreams, here is a list of colleges and universities with ED II deadlines for the 2024–2025 admission cycle. Click on the name of each school to explore its profile on CollegeXpress. If you see a green “Yes, connect me!” button on a featured profile, you can click it to request more information straight from the school.
December ED II deadlines
December 1:
- Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts
- SUNY Geneseo in Geneseo, New York
December 15:
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York
December 20:
- Reed College in Portland, Oregon
January ED II deadlines
January 1:
- Bates College in Lewiston, Maine
- Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts
- Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
- Colby College in Waterville, Maine
- College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey
- Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia
- Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa
- Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota
- New York University in New York, New York
- Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts
- Pitzer College in Claremont, California
- Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York
- Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts
- Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York
- University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida
- University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia
- Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee
- Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia
- Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts
- Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut
- William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts
January 2:
- Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio
- Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri
January 3:
- Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts
- Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland
January 4:
- Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts
- Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina
- Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont
- Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
- Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts
- University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
- Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York
January 5:
- Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine
- The George Washington University in Washington, DC
- Hamilton College in Clinton, New York
- Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California
- Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania
- Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts
- Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida
- Scripps College in Claremont, California
- University of Rochester in Rochester, New York
January 7:
- Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California
January 8:
- Pomona College in Claremont, California
- Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana
January 10:
- Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington
January 11:
- Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California
January 15:
- American University in Washington, DC
- Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont
- Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
- Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio
- The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC
- Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Colgate University in Hamilton, New York
- College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts
- College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio
- Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut
- Denison University in Granville, Ohio
- DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana
- Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
- Drew University in Madison, New Jersey
- Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut
- Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina
- Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York
- Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio
- Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania
- Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois
- Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California
- Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island
- Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee
- Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York
- Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York
- Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas
- St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota
- Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey
- Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut
- Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas
- Union College in Schenectady, New York
- University of Denver in Denver, Colorado
- The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee
- Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania
February ED II deadlines
February 1:
- Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania
- Baylor University in Waco, Texas
- High Point University in High Point, North Carolina
- Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York
- Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Occidental College in Los Angeles, California
- St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York
- Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts
February 15:
- Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania
By carefully selecting where to apply and planning ahead for Early Decision II, you can maximize your chances of securing a spot at a college that truly fits your goals and aspirations. If your ED I outcome didn’t go as planned, ED II provides a valuable opportunity to refine your college application strategy. While the process requires careful consideration, the benefits of applying ED II—including higher acceptance rates, clarity in decision-making, and peace of mind—are well worth the effort.
The full article can also be read on CollegeXpress here.