Varun Srinivasan November 11, 2023 6 12th Grade,College Application Tips

Should You Apply Early Decision II? Complete List of Schools

What’s Covered:

• What is Early Decision II? ED I vs. ED II
• Pros of Applying Early Decision II
• Cons of Applying Early Decision II
• Complete List of Schools with Early Decision II
• What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

There are a lot of choices to make when you’re applying to college. What type of school appeals to you? Which locations are you considering? And, should you apply Early Decision?

While Early Decision has been around for a long time, Early Decision II is a newer plan, offering similar advantages as the original plan without making students get their applications together before they’re ready. Should you apply under the plan?

What is Early Decision II? ED I vs. ED II

Similar to Early Decision I (ED I), Early Decision II (ED II) is a binding admission process, but it differs significantly in timing. Both ED plans show that a student is willing to attend if accepted, but ED II permits applications to be submitted later in the cycle, typically in time for Regular Decision (RD) deadlines. This later deadline might give students more time to polish their applications, give their college options more careful thought, and still demonstrate their commitment to their top choice.

Compared to ED I, ED II typically offers a smaller acceptance rate boost. One explanation for this is that colleges have already filled a portion of their class with ED I applicants by the time ED II decisions are made. Because of this, there are essentially fewer spots available for ED II applicants, which may increase competition for admission. Furthermore, since it indicates that the student most likely applied to another school during the ED I round, an ED II application could indicate a somewhat lesser level of commitment to the school. Colleges are aware that an ED II applicant’s perceived level of commitment may be slightly impacted if they were rejected or deferred from their ED I choice.

For ED II applicants, the boost is still there, though. Since they agree to attend if accepted and to withdraw other applications, students applying under the ED II category still demonstrate a higher level of interest in the school than those applying under the RD category. This dedication helps universities forecast their yield, or the proportion of admitted students who decide to enroll, an important aspect of admissions planning. Higher yields can influence a college’s ranking and selectivity, so ED II applicants are valuable to schools trying to reach their enrollment targets.

Pros of Applying Early Decision II

Extended Application Timeline

Early Decision II (ED II) extends the application deadline, giving students several extra weeks to strengthen their college applications. In contrast to the November Early Decision I (ED I) deadlines, the Regular Decision (RD) deadlines typically fall in December or January, and ED II applications tend to align with these dates. With this extra time, students can include year-end achievements in their ED II submission that they might have overlooked otherwise.

Student-athletes, for example, can include their accomplishments from fall sports in their applications, and club members can acquire and emphasize new leadership positions they have taken on during their senior year. A student’s profile can be greatly improved by these updates, which highlight their ongoing development and accomplishments in leadership, collaboration, and personal growth.

Additionally, you can use this window to improve your academic performance, like retaking tests to get better scores on the SAT or ACT. Working during the holidays as a seasonal employee can also demonstrate a strong work ethic and effective time management. Admissions committees may view applicants as more well-rounded and accomplished thanks to these improvements made possible by the ED II timeline.

Increased Acceptance Rates

The acceptance rate for students who apply for ED in general is higher than for those who apply for RD.

Acceptance rates for students who apply early under either early decision plan are generally higher—sometimes significantly so—than for those who apply RD. For example, the acceptance rate for Cornell University’s Class of 2023 was 22.7 percent for ED, compared with 9.2 percent for RD. Meanwhile, Middlebury College had a 44.8 percent acceptance rate for ED students and 12.6 percent for RD students.

Bear in mind that higher acceptance rates don’t necessarily indicate that it’s “easier” to get in if you apply ED. There are several other factors at play, such as the fact that students who apply to ED are less likely to need financial aid (not all schools are need-blind) and might fit into other categories like legacy or student-athletes that boost their chances. Moreover, since students are applying ED to their top-choice school, the pool is more self-selecting and therefore more likely to be a good fit for the school.

That said, our data indicates that while controlling for profile strength, applying early decisions does give students a boost in their chances of acceptance.

Cons of Applying Early Decision II

No Financial Aid Comparison

This is probably the biggest deterrent for applying under an ED plan. Because you’ll need to withdraw your applications from other schools if you’re accepted to your ED II (or I) college, you won’t be able to compare or leverage financial aid offers. 

Many schools will be willing to work with you and negotiate if the financial aid package doesn’t meet your needs. If you really can’t afford to matriculate at the school, they may allow you to withdraw from the agreement and go to a school that provides a better offer. However, this should be a last resort, and the first step is ensuring that the school is affordable. Use the college’s net price calculator to get an estimate before applying.

As a brief aside, in addition to insufficient financial aid, unusual hardship—such as a parent losing their job or an illness in the family—is grounds for withdrawal from the otherwise binding ED agreement.

RD Application Requirements

ED II and RD applications are usually due at or around the same time, in contrast to ED I applications, which are due months earlier. This means you’ll still need to prepare your RD applications and pay the application fee unless you have a fee waiver.

For some students, it might be overwhelming to work on additional applications during this time, so keep in mind how many schools you are applying to so you can stay on top of your requirements and deadlines.

Smaller Acceptance Rate Boost

The increase in acceptance that ED II provides over Regular Decision (RD) is still present, but it isn’t as great as that of ED I. This distinction results in fewer places available for ED II candidates because a portion of the incoming class has already been filled by ED I applicants. As a result, applicants in the second wave of early decision face increased competition in the admissions process.

Furthermore, since applicants may have selected a different school as their top choice during the ED I phase, ED II can occasionally be interpreted as a lesser commitment to the institution than ED I. Because schools are eager to choose students who exhibit the highest level of interest and commitment, which in turn influences yield—a metric that institutions closely monitor—this perception may have a subtle impact on the admissions process.

Although colleges rarely release the exact data regarding the acceptance rate differential between ED I and ED II, it is clear that, overall, ED II receives a smaller boost. Though with a smaller margin than those who apply for ED I, ED II is still a good option for committed students to improve their chances of acceptance.

Binding Commitment Limits Options

Although ED II is a chance for students who were not accepted through ED I to obtain an advantage over their competitors, there is a big catch. Because ED II is binding, if you are accepted, you have to withdraw all other applications and enroll at that institution. You would not be able to attend your first-choice school if you were subsequently accepted through Regular Decision, which could be a disadvantage.

Complete List of Schools with Early Decision II

Ready to apply for ED II? Here are the colleges with this admissions plan, separated by national universities and liberal arts colleges. Please double-check these deadlines, as they can change annually.

National Universities

Liberal Arts Colleges

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Want to gain an edge by applying ED II? Not sure whether you need that boost? With CollegeVine’s free Chancing Engine, you can find out. We’ll take your profile into account, including your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars, to predict your real chances of admission to more than 1500 colleges. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account to get started!