Early Decision: The Right Choice?

By Aaron Swartz

As students and families progress along the college search process, they will likely hear a lot about the schools' various decision plans, or structures and deadlines that students can select when applying for admission. Common examples include early decision, early action, and regular decision. Each one has different rules and regulations for the application deadline, when decisions will be announced, and limitations regarding applications to other schools. 

The “early decision” plan continues to be a popular option. Offered at several private colleges and universities, and even some large public institutions, early decision (ED) allows a candidate to submit their application by an earlier deadline and receive a decision earlier as well. The catch? Early decision applicants, along with their parents and school counselor, must sign a contract stating that, if admitted, they will withdraw all other outstanding applications and commit to attend their ED institution. Students may only apply to one institution under an ED plan. Essentially, it is a way to signal to a college that it is the applicant's first-choice school. 

With the binding nature of the contract, typically an ED round receives fewer applicants in a pool because not as many students are willing to make the commitment to one college without hearing back from others they might be interested in. Admit rates and admission chances, therefore, may be higher at selective institutions for students who enter the ED round, making it a compelling strategy for some. Institutions know these students are highly interested in committing, which helps them to secure enrollment in their incoming classes. As a result, students in an ED pool could potentially be reviewed more favorably than if they had applied regular decision or in a non-binding early action round. 

In my time as an admissions officer, I was frequently asked if and when it might make sense for a student to apply ED. Here are a few questions to ask yourself in determining if ED is the right choice for you. 

How much do I know about the school?

Before making the choice to bind yourself to this school, have you done the research necessary to understand what the experience would look like? Have you visited campus and envisioned yourself joining the community? These are important steps to take prior to knowing you’re ready to make this commitment. 

Is this a financially feasible option for myself and my family?

While families typically are exempt from an ED agreement if a financial aid package does not align with what is expected, it’s essential that they run the net price calculator and have a baseline understanding of what the cost of attendance would look like before any merit scholarships or outside assistance is factored into consideration. 

Are there clear factors that make it the right fit for me above other options?

Are there elements of the school that align closely with your values? Does the academic program support your interests? Does the student experience mirror what you are looking for? You want to make sure that the school matches your academic, social, cultural, geographic, and financial interests not just in theory, but in practice. 

If you’ve run through the questions above, and a school is still checking all of the boxes, ED might be a great choice for you! 

About Aaron Swartz

Aaron Swartz serves as the associate director of College Guidance at University School of Milwaukee. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Swartz attended Pembroke Hill School followed by Syracuse University, where he graduated with degrees in public relations and marketing. After graduation, Swartz continued at Syracuse as a full-time admissions counselor and eventual assistant director of admission, prior to joining USM in August 2025.