CampusPin Glossary
Early Decision (ED)
A binding early-application option: if admitted, the student must withdraw all other applications and enroll.
Early Decision is a binding agreement: applicants apply by an early deadline (typically November 1 or 15), receive a decision in mid-December, and if admitted commit to attending and withdraw all other applications. Some schools offer ED II with a January deadline. ED acceptance rates are usually 1.5–3× higher than regular-decision rates at the same school, but families should only use ED if the school is a clear first choice AND the financial-aid offer is workable — ED is binding regardless of aid.
ED applicants can usually still apply to non-binding rolling-admissions and Early Action schools simultaneously. They cannot apply ED to more than one school at a time.
See also
Early Action (EA)
A non-binding early-application option that lets students apply early and hear back early without committing to attend.
Restrictive Early Action (REA / SCEA)
A non-binding early option that restricts where else the applicant can apply early — typically barring other private-school early applications.
Regular Decision
The standard application timeline: apply by January 1–15, hear back by late March or early April, choose by May 1.
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