How Do I Decide Between Two ED Options?
How Do I Decide Between Two ED Options?
For many students, the question is not if they will apply early decision but where. There is a statistical advantage to applying early versus regular decision, so it often makes sense to consider this option even if you don’t have a clear first choice school.
When choosing between two (or more) great options, it’s important to consider all the relevant factors to your process and experience – not just where a school is ranked in US News and World Report or how many supplemental essay questions you’ll have to answer. Think about the kind of person you hope to be in four or five years when you graduate from that institution. How do you hope to have been prepared?
If you need help thinking through this very important decision, we strongly recommend seeking advice from an admissions expert, college counselor, or other trusted adult with knowledge of how the process works. Allow yourself to benefit from the wisdom of others who can see beyond your personal circumstances more easily than you. For more great suggestions for how else to make your decision easier, read on.
Visit Campus
You may have already spent some time on campus over the summer or as a junior, but if you can, you should visit campus again in the fall of senior year to help make your ED decision easier. Attend classes. Eat the dining hall food. Tag along to a club meeting. Do everything you can to try on the experience of being a student on that campus.
Make sure you take notes and carve out space for you to reflect on your findings. The notes you take about the people you meet can help you decide which school is best for ED for you and may make it easier for you to write more compelling supplements as well.
Remember, your campus visit is a work trip. As much as you want to have fun, your goal is to assess why that college is right for your long-term goals. Make a positive impression and, most of all, soak up every opportunity for enrichment.
Consider Your Day-to-Day Experience
While it can be easy to get caught up in the name or reputation of any number of great schools, you must think about what your day-to-day experience will be like as a student. Some institutions place a higher priority on collaboration, while others cultivate competition between students. Some schools embrace being a part of a major city, while others view themselves as a “bubble” from the rest of the world.
There are no right or wrong answers, but different experiences will resonate with you than perhaps your best friend or older sibling. What kind of college experience do you hope to cultivate? Take inventory of your desires and requirements and then compare that list to the colleges you’re considering for ED.
Try to imagine what it will be like going from class to class, taking finals, seeking assistance from tutors or grad students, and navigating the other campus resources. Your intuition will help inform you of which system suits your needs best.
Happiness vs. Prestige
Ultimately, what will make you a successful college student is finding a place that fosters an environment where you can thrive. Do not overlook the importance of happiness in making your decision. Attending a school with a great reputation but a low likelihood of allowing you to do well will not position you optimally for your next steps after college.
The reputation of a institution may ebb and flow. Favorable press, new donations, or the success of recent alumni can all greatly influence the admit rate and selectivity of a university in subsequent admission cycles. Rather than searching for the school that feels most prestigious in the moment, focus on finding the one that will git your needs the best and will make you most excited to be a student.
We encourage our students to take as much time as they need to reflect on this before reaching their conclusion. Consider the kinds of people you hope to have access to, the community spirit, the cultural diversity, the food, and any number of personal factors that might be relevant to you. It may be helpful to talk out your process with an admissions expert who can hold up an unbiased mirror for your reflection.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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