Early Decision Data Points
Early Decision (ED1) is the easiest round to be admitted to almost any college or university in the country regardless of their level of selectivity (this relies on the accurate public reported data from a variety of 4-year accredited colleges and universities whose admit rates have spanned between 5% and 50% over the last 3 years). As one might assume or imagine given the ED1 data, Regular Decision (RD) remains the most difficult round to earn an offer of admission.
Early Decision (ED1) - A binding application process that confers an agreement between the applicant and the institution in question that’s being applied to during the ED1 round. If admitted, the student is committed to attending the college or university barring any significant or major life changes. Application deadline is typically between 11/1-11/18 with their admissions decisions released a 4-6 weeks later.
Naturally, if someone wants to ensure they give themselves the best possible chance of being admitted to their top choice, it is always recommended to apply Early Decision. Every applicant in the college admissions process only gets to apply to just one school that offers ED1. As we know, colleges and universities do have a higher admit rates in ED1 compared to every other round that they have to offer. It is also another known fact that there are significantly less applicants who apply during the ED1 round compared to the RD round!
The Strategy Behind The Reasoning
Almost every single college and university who offers ED1 has fallen into the habit of enrolling about half of their incoming first-year class within just this one round alone. NO, typically this 50% number DOES NOT include rounds like Early Decision 2 (ED2) or other early college application admissions processes such as Questbridge and Posse. When you’re inclusive of every round that has a deadline before the standard January RD deadlines, you’ll find that colleges go into the RD reading, committee and decision processes with 66% to 75% of the incoming class already full! This data only reinforces the importance and power of applying ED1 since your chances of being admitted to your top choice, and every other college and university you’re interested in attending, drastically drop after the ED1 round to numbers that can be found, the absolute dismay of everyone, within the single digits.
Using ED1 Wisely
Yes, ED1 is absolutely the time to “shoot your shot”… however, it’s also the time to sit down with yourself and have an honest reflection on your academic success within the context of the curriculum you have been to take at your high school. Yes, be bold with your ED1 application submission but be realistic with where you decide to use your all-powerful ED card.
Data-Driven Concluding Thoughts
Let’s not forget about how almost every single medium-sized university to small college proudly proclaims that 50% to 66% of their campus population identify as student-athletes… which means 66% of the admit slots are already taken in ED1 by recruited athletes not to mention the percentage of the class the artists will also take up. Add a few development cases that are alumni of the institution and now 88% of the slots are filled for ED1, which leaves you to vie for a spot within the 12% that’s left. While that might seem grim, your are in a still better position even within these ED1 contexts rather than battling in a RD pool with a 3% admit rate trying to secure your slot in the first-year class over 30000 other applicants.
With admit rates in the single digits in Regular Decision and application numbers at historic all time highs year after year, you need to ensure you do not only have the best college admissions support possible, but that you have someone who will be by your side every step of the way always giving in their all; because when combine mastery with intrinsic endless support you maximize your success alongside your happiness!
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