Comments on: Early Decision or Regular Decision: Which is Better? http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/ Expert Advice on College Admission Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:09:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-9748 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:30:26 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-9748 Hi, Raj. You won't like this answer, but "it depends." On the college. On the student. If the student does not need financial aid, is a legacy, and is highly competitive for admission, ED will help. IF the student needs heavy amounts of aid, does not have a "hook" at the college, or is not really all that competitive, then ED is no advantage. All things being equal (and they never are), ED gives a slight advantage. But the general rule never applies in a specific case. Best of luck! Hi, Raj.
You won’t like this answer, but “it depends.” On the college. On the student.
If the student does not need financial aid, is a legacy, and is highly competitive for admission, ED will help. IF the student needs heavy amounts of aid, does not have a “hook” at the college, or is not really all that competitive, then ED is no advantage. All things being equal (and they never are), ED gives a slight advantage. But the general rule never applies in a specific case.
Best of luck!

]]> By: Raj Patel http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-9680 Raj Patel Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:40:59 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-9680 Does applying ED really give a student a higher chance to get accepted slightly or significantly? Does applying ED really give a student a higher chance to get accepted slightly or significantly?

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-8736 Mark Montgomery Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:48:33 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-8736 Early Decision is a contract. Your parents have to sign it. More important, your high school counselor or other representative will have to sign it. Thus, if your high school signs the form and you are accepted ED, they are bound not to send transcripts to other schools--unless they see you are released from your binding ED decision by the college in question. If you accept another offer from a college that is not the one with which you signed the ED agreement, then other kids at your school will suffer in the future from your unethical behavior. Believe me, I'm not in love with all these ED/EA regulations. But they are the rules of the game. And there are consequences for cheating--for you, for other kids, for your school, and for the colleges in question. Play by the rules. Early Decision is a contract. Your parents have to sign it. More important, your high school counselor or other representative will have to sign it. Thus, if your high school signs the form and you are accepted ED, they are bound not to send transcripts to other schools–unless they see you are released from your binding ED decision by the college in question. If you accept another offer from a college that is not the one with which you signed the ED agreement, then other kids at your school will suffer in the future from your unethical behavior. Believe me, I’m not in love with all these ED/EA regulations. But they are the rules of the game. And there are consequences for cheating–for you, for other kids, for your school, and for the colleges in question. Play by the rules.

]]> By: mas http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-8735 mas Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:31:08 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-8735 If a student applied early decision and did not withdraw their college applications from the other colleges they applied too; what would be the consequence? Further what would happen if a student ended-up accepting other offers from colleges? If a student applied early decision and did not withdraw their college applications from the other colleges they applied too; what would be the consequence? Further what would happen if a student ended-up accepting other offers from colleges?

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-8728 Mark Montgomery Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:15:12 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-8728 aba, If you apply ED and "don't agree" with the offer, then you turn down the offer of admission and you must apply RD somewhere else. Keep in mind that international students, generally speaking, are offered little to zero aid at many US colleges and universities. There are a number that do offer international students financial aid. If you need financial aid, the ethical thing to do is not to apply ED anywhere. You will have to compare financial aid offers. Some may offer you a lot. Some may offer you zero. If you want to get a low price, you have to wait until the RD round. If you decide to apply ED, then understand that they will give you their best offer. If you "don't agree," you can ask for more. But they are unlikely to give it. If you find the package unacceptable, you will have to ask to be released from the ED agreement, withdraw your application from that university, and you will have to apply somewhere else. This is a BIG problem. And it will have a negative impact on anyone else from your secondary school who wants to apply to that same university. They will figure that students from your school are not serious. If you need financial aid, don't apply ED. Hope this helps. Mark Montgomery aba,

If you apply ED and “don’t agree” with the offer, then you turn down the offer of admission and you must apply RD somewhere else. Keep in mind that international students, generally speaking, are offered little to zero aid at many US colleges and universities. There are a number that do offer international students financial aid.

If you need financial aid, the ethical thing to do is not to apply ED anywhere. You will have to compare financial aid offers. Some may offer you a lot. Some may offer you zero. If you want to get a low price, you have to wait until the RD round.

If you decide to apply ED, then understand that they will give you their best offer. If you “don’t agree,” you can ask for more. But they are unlikely to give it. If you find the package unacceptable, you will have to ask to be released from the ED agreement, withdraw your application from that university, and you will have to apply somewhere else. This is a BIG problem. And it will have a negative impact on anyone else from your secondary school who wants to apply to that same university. They will figure that students from your school are not serious.

If you need financial aid, don’t apply ED.

Hope this helps.

Mark Montgomery

]]> By: collegefinder http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-8724 collegefinder Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:45:09 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-8724 I have read this article and can say that it was really helpful, but still have a question: If I apply to college on ED and I'm accepted, but did not like the financial aid package, can I without any problem don't agree this offer and apply RD? I have read this article and can say that it was really helpful, but still have a question: If I apply to college on ED and I’m accepted, but did not like the financial aid package, can I without any problem don’t agree this offer and apply RD?

]]> By: Educational Consultant and College Planner | Great College Advice | College Early Decision Agreements: Binding or Not? http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-6085 Educational Consultant and College Planner | Great College Advice | College Early Decision Agreements: Binding or Not? Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:12:44 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-6085 [...] As Zac points out, Early Decision agreements can be ruinous for the family that will struggle to pay for college.  I have written at length about how these ED agreements work. [...] [...] As Zac points out, Early Decision agreements can be ruinous for the family that will struggle to pay for college.  I have written at length about how these ED agreements work. [...]

]]> By: Educational Consultant and College Planner | Great College Advice | Early Action and Early Decision Programs in College Admissions http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-5887 Educational Consultant and College Planner | Great College Advice | Early Action and Early Decision Programs in College Admissions Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:21:54 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-5887 [...] [For a thorough explanation of early decision programs, see the article "Early Decision or Regular Decision:  Which is Better?".] [...] [...] [For a thorough explanation of early decision programs, see the article "Early Decision or Regular Decision:  Which is Better?".] [...]

]]> By: Educational Consultant and College Planner | Great College Advice | Educational consultant comments on early decision application process. http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-5814 Educational Consultant and College Planner | Great College Advice | Educational consultant comments on early decision application process. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:03:48 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-5814 [...] elated, but this is not your “easy in” to your favorite college. There still are some very important questions you need to consider before you sign that binding agreement.  Applying early decision is not [...] [...] elated, but this is not your “easy in” to your favorite college. There still are some very important questions you need to consider before you sign that binding agreement.  Applying early decision is not [...]

]]> By: Educational consultant comments on early applications. http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-4080 Educational consultant comments on early applications. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:03:23 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-4080 [...] early decision plays on students in a lower socioeconomic class. In the past, we have written about applying ED and how to think about financial aid.  Basically, it is a good idea to know what you are getting into and make the best decision for [...] [...] early decision plays on students in a lower socioeconomic class. In the past, we have written about applying ED and how to think about financial aid.  Basically, it is a good idea to know what you are getting into and make the best decision for [...]

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