Early decision is a consequential choice for students applying to college, as they have to commit to attending if accepted without knowing the school’s financial aid offer. This means they may be on the hook for the full cost, which can be substantial. However, for some families, such as those who can afford full tuition like Ivy’s family, the rewards of early decision can be significant. At Duke University, for example, only 1,750 students out of over 54,000 applicants were accepted into the incoming class, with those applying in the early decision round being three times more likely to gain admission than those applying later.
Until recently, early decision was governed by a set of mandatory practices laid out by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, including rules that prohibited colleges from recruiting students already committed to another school or actively encouraging transfers. Additionally, colleges were required to give students until May 1 to decide among offers, with early decision as a recognized exception. However, the Justice Department found these rules to be in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, leading to changes that allowed colleges more flexibility in their recruitment practices, including the ability to offer special benefits or aggressively poach students from other schools.
With the removal of previous restrictions, colleges have been able to embrace early decision more fully, with some schools admitting a significant percentage of their incoming class through this process. For example, Middlebury College enrolled 516 out of 735 first-year students through binding early decision. Some schools even have additional rounds of early decision, as well as various other application pathways with different terms and conditions, further increasing the complexity of the college admissions process.
This shift towards more aggressive recruitment practices in the wake of changes to NACAC rules has implications for students and families navigating the college admissions process. The pressure to commit early to a single school without knowing financial aid offers can be challenging for students, particularly those who may have limited financial resources. Additionally, the increased competition in early decision rounds may lead to greater uncertainty for applicants, as they weigh the benefits of potentially higher acceptance rates against the risks of committing to a school without knowing the full financial picture.
As colleges continue to adapt to the new landscape of college admissions, students and families must navigate the changing terrain with caution. The abolition of previous rules governing early decision means that colleges now have more leeway in their recruitment practices, potentially leading to increased competition and pressure on students to commit early. Understanding the implications of these changes and carefully weighing the risks and benefits of early decision are essential for students making this consequential choice in their college application process.
