On Binding Early Decision

We had a student a few years back whose dream was Columbia University. She thus applied Early Decision to Columbia, her first choice school. But just because she applied Early Decision to Columbia doesn’t mean she wasn’t able to also apply to schools under non-restrictive Early Action policies. After all, … 

Read More

Early Decision Under Fire

A new report, published by a group known as “Education Reform Now,” has sharply criticized Early Decision policies. What? A group is against the notion that students should not have to make binding commitments to universities in exchange for increased odds of admission? This is a radical rebuke of a … 

Read More

On Committing Early Decision

One of the core objectives of this college admissions blog has long been to debunk misconceptions about the highly selective college admissions process. And today we will do just that as we address an article in The New York Times by Ron Lieber entitled “Early Decision Isn’t Binding. Let Us … 

Read More

Dissecting the Argument Against Applying Early Decision

So many high school seniors across America and around the world choose not to apply to a school through an Early Decision policy because they’re not ready to make a binding commitment to attend an institution. They need time. They want to weigh their options. An apple might fall from … 

Read More

Reliance on Early Decision Applicants

In a piece in yesterday’s New York Times, journalist Jeffrey Selingo, fresh out with a new book on highly selective college admissions, makes the argument in said book that colleges with Early Decision policies relied more heavily on their ED applicant pools in the wake of the 2008 recession than … 

Read More

Early Decision is Binding

A parent on a free consultation — to be clear, a parent who was not our client but rather a prospective client — recently told us that her daughter was accepted to a college under its binding Early Decision policy. But her child has since had misgivings about the school … 

Read More

The Mistake of Not Applying Early

If you’re a high school senior who isn’t applying this Early Decision / Early Action round, you have made the biggest mistake in the college admissions process. That’s right. We said it. You see, you’ll hear others tell you that it doesn’t matter when you apply, to take your time, … 

Read More

Debunking 5 Falsehoods Presented in a Piece on Early Decision Admissions

One of the core objectives of our college admissions blog is to debunk misconceptions about the highly selective college admissions process — misconceptions perpetuated by high school counselors, by admissions officers, by private college consultants, and more. On about a monthly basis, one such high school counselor, Brennan Barnard, presents … 

Read More

A Nonsensical Argument Against Early Decision

Do you not want your child to apply to a school under its binding Early Decision policy because you don’t feel your child should have to commit to one school and one school only? If so, we’d urge you to get over it and reconsider. And why? Because when you … 

Read More

Early Admission Policy Changes

Just about every year, some schools choose to change their Early Decision or Early Action policies. This year — for the Class of 2023 — is no exception. Some schools have added Early Decision II programs, while others have removed Early Decision II programs. Still other schools have changed the … 

Read More

1 2 3