This is the time of year when I get calls from parents and students asking whether they should apply to college via early decision vs regular decision. Applying ED means that if you get accepted, you will enroll in the school. Thanks for your question. The reason for this is that early decision means you're making a binding agreement to enroll in that school if you get accepted. What does it mean to be deferred early decision? Unlike both early action and regular decision, early decision is binding, which means that if you get accepted to your early-decision college, you are morally obligated to attend it and must withdraw all other college applications. Is early decision really binding, or can I still get out of it? Understanding Early Action, Early Decision, Restricted Early Action and Rolling Admission 09/23/2014 01:11 pm ET Updated Nov 23, 2014 Before you decide to apply "early" to a college, it's a good idea to understand what that means. Nathan Lowery. In order to complete and submit this form the student must first select the Early Decision term option for one institution. For us, Early Decision means just that — you will get a final decision on your application earlier than Regular Decision. Sounds like a big commitment, right? The Responses and What They Mean. It’s a common misconception that schools defer students to “let them down easy,” but that’s not the case. November 7th, 2017. If you’ve applied Early Decision to a college (and you should have applied Early Decision to only one college because you can only have one first choice that you’re sure you would accept), then you’ll likely receive one of three notifications sometime in the month of December. Some schools also offer ED2, which basically means that if you either didn't apply early decision elsewhere & were accepted, were rejected early decision by a different school, or were deferred by your original school, you can apply "ED2" at this school. The answer is it’s both. Jay Watson. While applying early action isn't binding, early decision is. Understanding Early Action and Early Decisions Applications The student must read and sign the agreement from within his/her Common App account. What is Early Decision? Does the Early Bird Get the Worm? Schools reject students if they want to. Yes, early decision is binding. Yes, it’s really binding. ED1 applications are due earlier than regular applications, as previously explained. This decision is a very important one, especially if you are considering some of the more selective colleges and universities in […] At Vanderbilt, we do not defer decisions. 1. For Early Decision or Early Action – When students apply Early Decision or Early Action, then colleges MAY base their decision on junior grades only, although many will request first-quarter grades from the school counselor before deciding if the counselor hasn’t sent them.The same is true for “Rolling Admissions” colleges. Once this decision is selected, the ED Agreement will be available as a follow-up question within the institution's questions. It’s important to note that there is a difference between being deferred and being rejected. Does Vanderbilt ever defer any early decision applicants for consideration of Regular Decision. To apply through the Early Decision Program, applicants must follow these guidelines: Apply to only one U.S. medical school by the stated deadline date (August 1* for schools that participate in AMCAS); Not to apply through the Early Decision Program if they have already submitted an initial or secondary application (AMCAS or non-AMCAS) to a U.S. medical school for the current entering class. Being deferred is not a rejection. You can only apply to one school early decision. Nothing, If You Back Out With Good Reason. 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