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Summary
There are two kinds of Early Decision Applications: Early Decision 1 (ED1) and Early Decision 2 (ED2). Both applications are binding commitments. However, Early Decision 1 has earlier application and release dates to allow students to commit to a university earlier. Early Decision 2, on the other hand, has later application and release dates than ED1, giving students more time to improve their grades, recommendation letters, admissions essays, and extracurricular activities. Both applications have their own pros and cons, but deciding which one to apply to depends on your priorities.
Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2
If you’re a student planning to apply to college, you’ve probably heard about Early Decision. It is a binding commitment requiring you to attend the university and withdraw from all other applications.
We’ve already discussed the University of Chicago’s Early Decision Zero (ED0). However, there are two kinds of Early Decisions: Early Decision 1 (ED1) and Early Decision 2 (ED2).
Similarities
Both Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2 are binding commitments. A student must commit to the university they applied to once they receive their acceptance letters. In turn, they must withdraw their other applications to other universities.
Although ED1 and ED2 are separate waves in the college application process, students receive equal consideration in both.
Differences
Moreover, ED1 and ED2 differ in their timelines. Their application periods and results happen at different times of the year. The table below summarizes their schedules:
Type of Early Decision: | Application: | Results: |
ED1 | ED1 applications are usually due in early November. | ED1 results are released in mid-December (before winter break). |
ED2 | ED2 applications are due in early January. | ED2 results are released in mid-February or early March. |
Which Early Decision Best Suits You?
Early Decision 1 is for students who are:
- 100% committed to a particular institution
- Confident in passing their first choice school, and are all set for college
- Well-prepared with their grades, extracurricular activities, admissions essays, and recommendation letters
Early Decision 2 is for students who:
- Have missed the deadline for ED1
- Need more time to decide on which university they want to commit to
- aim to improve your grades for the first semester
- need more time to gather recommendation letters, work on extracurricular activities, revise admissions essays, and look for financial aid options
Pros and Cons of Applying for Early Decision 1 (ED1):
Pros of Applying for ED1
- Earlier Results Release Date. Applying for ED1 allows students to receive their results earlier than ED2, which is in mid-December. Once accepted, they have the assurance that they are already committed to a university, which will give them a whole semester to prepare for college and decide on their next steps.
- More Time. However, if they are waitlisted or rejected from their ED1 application, there will still be time to look for backup schools and apply for ED2, Rolling Admissions, and Regular Decision to other universities.
- Commitment to a University. Applying early for ED1 shows devotion and commitment to a certain university, which makes the applicant stand out and increases the chances of acceptance compared to applying later.
Cons of Applying for ED1
- 100% Commitment. ED1 is for students who are 100% decided on a particular university and major. Getting accepted right away means being expected to attend the university and withdrawing all other applications. However, if students are accepted to ED1 but change their minds about which university to attend, this is not allowed, as they pledged to attend the university and withdraw all other applications (unless it is an emergency).
- Less Time. Since applications for ED1 are usually due in early November, students will have less time to improve their Common App activity lists, write their admissions essays, join extracurricular activities, gather recommendation letters, and look into financial aid options.
Pros & Cons of Applying for Early Decision 2 (ED2):
Pros of Applying for ED2
- More Time. Since ED2 applications are due in early January, two months later than ED1, students will have more time to decide on which college they will commit to for the next four years.
- More Strengthened Application. In applying for ED2, students will also have two more months to strengthen their applications. They will have more time to research financial aid options, improve their first semester grades, gather recommendation letters, and work on their admissions essays.
- A Second Chance. An ED2 application is a second chance for students who wanted to commit to a certain college but got rejected during their ED1 application.
Cons of Applying for ED2
- Later Results. Because ED2 results come out later than ED1 results (late February or early March), there might be less time to pack and prepare for college.
- Backup Schools. If, for example, their ED2 application becomes rejected, applicants will have less time to look for backup schools (compared to applying for ED1) and apply for Regular Decision and Rolling Admissions.
Common Misconceptions & FAQ’s about ED 1 and ED 2
#1: Students may apply to both ED 1 and ED 2 in one round.
If applicants want to apply for Early Decision, they must choose only one of Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2 and look for the application that best suits them.
#2: Students cannot apply to Early Action or other types of admissions once they choose to apply for an Early Decision.
If applicants applied for ED1 or ED2, they are still allowed to apply to other admissions. Some of these include: Early Action, Rolling Admissions, and Regular Decision. However, once accepted by their Early Decision university, applicants are expected to withdraw from all other applications and commit to the ED university.
3. You cannot apply for ED2 once you get rejected by ED1
If applicants get rejected by their ED1 application (usually released in mid-December), they can still submit an ED2 application as a second chance (due in early January). It’s still worth a shot, so try to send in that ED2 application!
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