First of all, the ED deadline has passed (almost always 11/1) and so has the EA deadline (11/1 or 11/15) for many of the top universities, but every year I run into the same story when it comes to this option. Students apply ED when they aren’t 100% they want to attend the university (or can pay for it). Others don’t know about it, but would have used the option if they did.
Before a student selects ED as an option they need to recognize this: ED is a legally binding submission, meaning that they have to attend the school and pay the tuition if they get accepted. Unless a student is completely sure they want to be at this university, they should never apply as ED. On the flip side, applying ED can increase an applicant’s chances of getting in. When. a student applies as ED the university knows they are intent on going there, that it is the client’s first choice, which reasonably makes them want to accept. Students can only apply to one school as ED. Who doesn’t want someone who sees them as their “first choice?” It’s a guaranteed win for the university because they don’t have to wonder if they’ll be chosen. However, most of the schools that offer ED or EA are highly selective universities and therefore they can be choosy.
EA can be very helpful as well. EA means that the student is signing up as early action, which gives them a head start on the application process and a higher chance of getting in. Of course, it depends on which school they’re applying to. Highly selective campuses are always going to be very difficult to get into and applying as EA doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more likely students will be accepted. Still, it’s a good decision if the student is really serious about a school. EA is not binding, meaning that they won’t have to attend the university, but it does mean that they won’t be able to apply again as regular decision most of the time if they don’t get it. There is risk in all of this, of course.
On that note, when students are deciding when to apply, they should give substantial thought as to how ready their college essays are. Many students try to rush the college as a process so they can apply ED or EA and in the process greatly diminished their chance of getting in because their essays aren’t strong . Let this sink in. You may have a much better chance of getting in if you apply on the regular deadline, if it means that your essays are going to be polished.
Besides your data, the only thing a school uses to decide whether they want to accept you or not is your essay and your extracurricular activities (students list this on their application). This is why it’s so important to make sure everything you write in your essay adds value to what was already listed on your application. Additionally, it’s important for students to be really careful and thoughtful about how they answer each of the questions on the application, making sure it sounds smooth, and has no grammatical errors. Admissions officers are looking at your application first (most of the time) and then reading through your extracurriculars. Finally, they get into your essays. This is the typical pattern, so you want to make sure that your essays are adding to the picture rather than reiterating what you already said.
I can’t emphasize how important it is to submit a powerful essay. And this goal, along with deciding when the best deadline is for you, should be your primary concern in the application process.
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