Students anxiously awaiting word from their early decision college in the next few weeks should have a backup plan.
If they are denied or waitlisted, all hope is not lost. They still have another option that could bring them exciting news and save them from applying to college at the start of the new year.
Many colleges offer Early Decision II (ED II), with an application deadline in January and notification in February, about two months before the college’s usual April 1 response date. The main advantage of applying early decision is that colleges usually accept a much higher percentage of applicants. Because early decision is mandatory, colleges know that any student they accept will definitely go on, which increases their “yield” (the percentage of accepted students who will enroll).
For example, the latest speed of decision-making, according to US News and World Report, are 87% at American University, 79% at The College of New Jersey, and 65% at the University of Miami. The overall enrollment rate in these same schools is 64%, 62%, and 28%, respectively.
The main disadvantage of using early acceptance is the fact that it is mandatory and does not allow students to compare the different financial aid packages they can receive from different colleges.
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Students who wish to take advantage of ED II should submit applications and all supporting materials (SAT scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation) immediately. ED II deadlines for many popular schools among New Jersey students are fast approaching.
Deadline is January 1 at Lehigh University, Northeastern University, University of Miami, University of Richmond and Vanderbilt University.
January 15 is the ED II deadline at American University, Bucknell University, Franklin and Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Lafayette College, College of the Holy Cross, and Western Reserve University.
Colleges in New Jersey offering ED II are NJIT, with an application deadline of December 15th, as well as Drew University and Stevens Institute of Technology, both with an application deadline of January 15th.
While it’s great to get good news early and want to get off the college admissions merry-go-round, students should only apply early decision to a college that is truly their dream college.
Susan Alaimo, founder and director of Collegebound Review, offers the PSAT/SAT® essay preparation, editing, and private college advising by Ivy League-educated faculty. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362.
