Ask Yourself These 4 Questions Before You Apply Early Decision college

Some schools have higher acceptance rates for early applicants, but the binding agreement isn't right for everyone.

While early action has few drawbacks, early decision should only be used when a student is 100 percent sure of his or her first choice school.

​Colleges typically offer two early admissions options – early action, in which students receive a nonbinding offer of admission, and early decision, in which students, if accepted, must attend the college in question.
While one can argue that there are few drawbacks to early action, early decision (or ED, for short) is another matter. Students who are considering applying ED to a school should weigh a number of questions very carefully before deciding on this path. While applying early decision can open doors that may otherwise have been difficult to enter, its binding nature also closes a number of other doors if you are admitted. Here are four important questions to ask yourself before applying to a college ED:
[Here are four financial aid facts early decision applications should know.]


1. Is there a significant statistical advantage to applying ED?
At certain schools, there is a considerably higher rate of acceptance for students who apply early. However, this can vary widely by institution, with some colleges reporting exceptionally large differences, and others reporting differences of only several percentage points.


A student who applies to a school via early action or early decision may thus have a better chance of admission than a comparable student who applies during regular admissions. Whether ED programs offer a distinct advantage over early action is less clear. Colleges may not have both ED and early action, and the different admissions rates cannot necessarily be compared as a result.


[Check out three reasons to apply early action to college.]
2. Would a midyear addition to your application such as a completed internship or first semester grades enhance your overall profile?
If your answer to this question is yes, then it is perhaps best to avoid early decision applications. Think of it this way – early decision may provide you with an admissions advantage, but so too will a strong addition to your application.
The ideal time to apply early decision is when you are 100 percent certain that a particular school is your first choice college and when your admissions profile is polished and complete. If the second semester of your senior year will bring you a leadership position in an extracurricular, or a rare service learning opportunity, opt for regular admissions.
3. Have you thoroughly vetted the school, including sitting in on a class and staying on campus overnight?


If your answer to this question is no, set aside your early decision application for now. If you are able to do so, spend several days or a weekend on campus before you commit the next four years of your life to the school.
Will you be happy in the dorms or the available off-campus housing? Is the surrounding town large or small enough for you? Do you enjoy the structure of an average class in your major? Once you answer these and other questions, you can decide on the best admissions strategy for you.


[Answer this quiz and find out where you should start the college process.]
4. Do you often second-guess​ your decisions or wish that you had taken more time to think through a matter?
If your answer to this question is yes, then you should almost certainly avoid early decision. It can be tempting to move past the stresses of the college search by rushing the process, but unless you are fully secure in your choice, you may change your mind in December, March or June with no easy solution.


Take a moment to consider your most recent important decision. How often did you change your mind? Was it an anxiety-provoking process, or did you move too quickly toward a solution?


Applying early decision to college is a double-edged sword. While it may make you happier in the short term, unless you have thoroughly researched your top choice and have no doubt that it is where you wish to enroll, you may regret your lack of choice come spring. If you know that further thought and

3 Tips for Selecting the Right Reach Schools college search

Start by broadening your college search beyond the Ivy League.

Consider applying to reach schools that are strong matches with your unique academic or extracurricular interests.

According to the Department of Education, there are roughly 3,000 four-year colleges in America. You likely should not apply to all of them.
In fact, you should leave the majority of them off of your short list. Each school that you apply to during senior year of high school will cost you time, effort and money, so it is important to choose colleges carefully.
We have previously discussed how to create a short list of one or two safety schools, four or five target schools and one or two reach schools. Of these three categories, identifying your reach schools may be the most difficult. Here are three tips to help you with this task.
[Follow five steps to choose how many college applications to send.]
1. Consider your personal statistics – to a degree: Your GPA and standardized test scores are both the most and least important factors to keep in mind as you choose reach schools.


They are important in the sense that your academic statistics should be within range of those for the college in question. If your GPA and standardized test scores are well above the school's average, you may find yourself lacking motivation. If they're too far below, you may struggle in your classes.


With that said, many admissions departments will give greater weight to your essays, letters of recommendation and other evidence of excellence such as leadership in extracurricular activities and meaningful volunteer commitments. Challenging course work, such as AP or IB classes, can also help to balance a somewhat lower GPA.
Simply put, do not be afraid to apply to colleges and universities that are slightly above your statistical range. However, do not apply to schools that are dramatically out of reach. For instance, a 2.8 GPA will not qualify you for a college with an average accepted student GPA of 3.8.


[Consider the downside of attending a reach school.]
2. Look beyond the Ivy League: For many high school students, an Ivy League university is the quintessential reach school. If attending Brown University or Cornell University is your dream, then by all means apply. But if you are submitting an application just because it is a prestigious school, look elsewhere.
If you dream of studying marine biology, for example, the University of California—Santa Cruz hosts the Institute of Marine Sciences, a world-renowned center for research. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is also close by and offers many opportunities for collaborative studies and summer internships.


Although U.S. News ranks UCSC as tied for No. 82 overall among National Universities, most out-of-state freshmen will have a minimum GPA of 3.4, with​ an emphasis on science and math.
[Find ways to weigh passion and practicality in your college search.]
3. Leverage extracurricular interests: If you can demonstrate long-term engagement in an area that falls outside the traditional academic arena, seek out those colleges and universities that are just out of reach academically, but that also have an existing interest in your skill set.


For example, if you have competed in a national singing competition, choose a reach school that has a renowned choir​. Bucknell University, for example, is a selective, private liberal arts school​ with a strong music program that offers a number of merit-based scholarships.
Next, ask your choral director or singing instructor for a recommendation letter that commends your dedication and enthusiasm.


You can also mention this interest in your college application essay, as well as contact the program coordinator at the school in question. Identifying an advocate among the faculty or staff at your target reach school may prove advantageous come decision time.
The three strategies discussed here are not magical solutions. They will not guarantee you entry to the most competitive colleges or universities in the U.S. However, they may position you to receive an acceptance letter from a school that you may have never dreamed of attending otherwise.