As the college admissions landscape becomes increasingly competitive, students and families are looking for ways to maximize their chances of acceptance. One strategy that has gained attention in recent years is Early Decision 2 (ED 2). While many students are familiar with Early Decision 1, ED 2 offers a second chance at an early application, and it can be just as powerful—if not more—when used strategically.
So, what exactly is Early Decision 2, and how can it benefit you in your college application journey? Let’s explore what ED2 involves and its implications to help determine if it is a good fit for your personal college admissions journey.
WHAT IS EARLY DECISION 2?
ED2 is a second chance at Early Decision (ED1) offered at a subsection of colleges that also offer the binding ED1 option. Both ED1 and ED2 require the student, a parent or guardian, and the student’s counselor to sign an agreement that commits the student to attending if they are admitted.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR EARLY DECISION 2?
Though it can vary, ED 2 usually is the same or similar to a college’s Regular Decision (RD) deadline and most often falls in early January. Though the ED2 deadline might be the same as the RD deadline, the applications are prioritized so that the decision will be released sooner, often in February.
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WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF EARLY DECISION 2?
Similar to ED 1, ED2 applicants usually enjoy a higher admission rate than the Regular Decision rate. Every institution does not release a breakdown of their admission rates for each admission round, so it can be hard to understand the exact advantage. In general, colleges appreciate the significance of the commitment that students are making in any early decision round and aim to lock in a consequential portion of the incoming class in these rounds of admission, resulting in the higher rate.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF EARLY DECISION 2?
If you enter the binding commitment that comes with any early decision round and are admitted, you may give up the opportunity to compare scholarship and financial aid offers at other universities. It is a decision that should not be made lightly!
HOW DO I KNOW IF EARLY DECISION 2 IS RIGHT FOR ME?
ED2 can be a great opportunity for students who were not ready to make a commitment in ED1 or who were aiming to add additional qualifications such as improved grades or test scores to their applications. Students who applied and did not get admitted through a restrictive early action or ED1 option might also be ready to pivot to another choice for ED2 to take advantage of the increased odds.
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CAN I CHANGE MY REGULAR DECISION APPLICATION TO ED2?
If you already submitted a regular decision application to a college that offers ED2 and you are now reconsidering the ED2 option, contact the admissions office to ask if you can change your admission plan. This is a typical request that most universities will accommodate. To finish off that process you will need to complete the binding Early Decision Agreement.
NOTABLE SCHOOLS OFFERING ED2
| College / University | ED 2 Deadline |
| American University | January 15 |
| Babson College | January 2 |
| Bates College | January 10 |
| Boston College | January 2 |
| Boston University | January 6 |
| Bowdoin College | January 6 |
| Bryn Mawr College | January 1 |
| Bucknell University | January 15 |
| Carleton College | January 15 |
| Case Western Reserve University | January 15 |
| Claremont McKenna College | January 10 |
| Colgate University | January 15 |
| College of William and Mary | January 5 |
| College of Wooster | January 15 |
| Colorado College | January 15 |
| Connecticut College | January 15 |
| Davidson College | January 5 |
| Emory University | January 1 |
| George Washington University | January 5 |
| Grinnell College | January 15 |
| Hamilton College | January 6 |
| Harvey Mudd College | January 5 |
| Haverford College | January 5 |
| Johns Hopkins University | January 2 |
| Lafayette College | January 15 |
| Lehigh University | January 1 |
| Macalester College | January 1 |
| Middlebury College | January 3 |
| New York University | January 1 |
| Northeastern University | January 1 |
| Pomona College | January 8 |
| Reed College | December 20 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | January 3 |
| Santa Clara University | January 7 |
| Sarah Lawrence College | January 15 |
| Scripps College | January 8 |
| Skidmore College | January 6 |
| Smith College | January 1 |
| Southern Methodist University | January 15 |
| Swarthmore College | January 4 |
| Syracuse University | January 5 |
| Tufts University | January 6 |
| Tulane University | January 15 |
| University of Chicago | January 6 |
| University of Miami | January 6 |
| University of Richmond | January 1 |
| Vanderbilt University | January 1 |
| Vassar College | January 1 |
| Villanova University | January 15 |
| Wake Forest University | January 1 |
| Washington and Lee University | January 2 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | January 2 |
| Wellesley College | January 1 |
| Wesleyan University | January 1 |
THE EARLY DECISION 2 EDGE
Making a strong, informed commitment to a school can be an exciting and rewarding decision if you’ve done the research and feel confident that the school is the right fit for you. If you have a specific school on your radar, ED2 could be the edge you need.
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