Making the Decision About Early Decision
If you’re still asking yourself whether you should be applying Early Decision at this point in the fall, the answer should probably be NO.
If you just breathed a sigh of relief, that tells you everything you need to know. You didn’t want to apply early; you were waiting for permission not to. Don’t do it! The applications will still be there November 2. But if you’re still squirming, not sure you’re off the hook, read on.
Why are you applying early? Most people are sure about this answer: Because it will give me an advantage. But will it? Statistics usually show that more early applicants get in—but as your science teacher has doubtless told you numerous times, Correlation does not equal causation. In other words, the early applicants could be different from the regular applicants in more ways than the date of their application. People who apply early are motivated and organized; the pool of applicants will overall not be diluted with people who are only applying ‘just to see.’ There’s simply no way of knowing whether greater numbers are getting in because they’ve demonstrated their commitment to the school or because they were simply a better batch of candidates than the regular admission pool.
Are you entirely clear whether the schools where you are applying are binding or nonbinding for early applications? If it is a binding decision, you must be 100 percent convinced this is your dream school, as well as be willing and able to pay whatever it costs. If financial aid offers will come into your decision-making, you want to make sure you are not applying anywhere with a binding policy.
If you’re sure the school is your dream school, and you always intended to apply early, why haven’t you yet? Many people procrastinate, and it might be simply that you haven’t wanted to do the actual work of the application. But is your procrastination pointing to an underlying questioning of your plan? Just another thing to consider.
Finally, we get to the point. If you have two weeks or less to submit your early application, you should be seriously questioning your ability to write your best essay (or essays!). In my opinion as a writer and editor, any unclear and unpromised advantage to an early submission is entirely overshadowed by the risk of rushed and unimpressive essays. The first deadline is called “early”—that doesn’t make the second deadline “late.”
*If you’re so early that you’re reading this in October of your junior year, please note that this post is not meant to discourage early application in general. I think being finished with your applications by the end of September or October of your senior year is an admirable and entirely reasonable goal that will allow you to do your best, unrushed work over the summer and have a happier, healthier senior fall. The post is specifically meant to discourage last-minute early applications, which in my experience defeat their purpose for all of the reasons specified.*
If you’ve decided not to apply early and you still feel behind, might be time to schedule a 15-minute consultation to see how I can help.
(Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash)
