Everything You Need to Know about Early Decision II (ED2)

What is Early Decision 2 (EDII)?

Similar to Early Decision, Early Decision 2 is a binding admission process, but it differs significantly in terms of timing. Both ED plans show that a student is willing to attend if accepted, but while ED1 allows students to receive notifications prior to applying to colleges in the Regular Decision (RD) round, ED2 allows applications to be submitted later in the cycle, typically with about the same deadlines as those in Regular Decision (RD). This later deadline might give students more time to polish their applications, enhance their candidacies with better senior year grades or standardized tests scores, give their college options more careful thought, and still demonstrate their commitment to their top choice with the admissions advantage that applying in a binding manner often confers.

What is The Difference Between Early Decision 1 (EDI) and Early Decision 2 (EDII)?

The fundamental concept underlying both ED1 and ED2 is the same: Students commit to attending the college if admitted, which admissions committees generally see as a strong display of interest. This commitment often leads colleges to admit a higher percentage of ED applicants. One of the primary distinctions between ED2 and ED1 lies in the timing of application submission. While both ED1 and ED2 exhibit a student's commitment to enroll if accepted, ED1 applications are typically due in November, with decisions usually arriving in December. On the other hand, ED2 applicants have until January to finalize and submit their applications. This extended timeline might appeal to students who need more time to refine their applications.

When to Consider Applying Early Decision 2 (and When Not To!)

With due dates at the beginning of January, compared to Early Action (EA) and ED1, you will have an additional two to two and half months to prepare an application for your ED2 school (whether you are doing so preemptively or as your first ED submission). If by mid-December, you’re reeling from a rejection or deferral from your EA or ED1 school, you still have a few weeks, depending on the school, to apply ED2 to another top-choice school. Bear in mind this must be a school to which you did not already apply Early Decision or Early Action (which does not require a commitment to attend) and that if accepted, you will have to withdraw your applications from any schools that are still pending review. 

Because schools have already admitted many ED1 students and now know the number of Regular Decision applicants in contention, they are less reliant on ED2 applicants to meet their target yield rates, but will still prioritize qualified ED2 applicants to fill the remaining available spots. Consequently, admittance rates for ED2 applications are not as high as those for ED1, but still higher than those for Regular Decision. That advantage can often mean the difference between gaining admission to a top-choice school or having to settle for a fallback option.

ED2 applications also give students the opportunity to showcase the completion of a successful senior fall semester and higher standardized test scores that may not have come in until the fall, study financial aid packages, demonstrate interest by visiting your ED2 school of choice, participate in additional extracurricular activities, and assemble and present an even stronger application.

With some time for reflection, you may even discover that your ED2 school is a better fit overall than one you applied to EA or ED1. Most important, only apply ED2 to your top-choice school, whether it’s your new top-choice school after a rejection, a new favorite after a deferral by your ED1 or EA school, or a top-choice school you missed the deadline for in an earlier application round.

Keep in mind that if comparing financial aid packages, whether across need- or merit-based aid is a priority for you, applying ED2 may not be the right option for you! You will need to make sure that tuition and fees are affordable no matter how much the school decides to independently offer in aid in the event you are accepted and thus committed to attend.  

How can AtomicMind help?

It’s not too late! We have a talented team of experienced advisors who work with students to research colleges and prepare their application materials before the ED 2 deadline. They are dedicated to making sure your entire application is compelling and error-free, and highlights your strengths and achievements. In addition, they will help you craft a compelling personal statement that showcases your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations. Take this opportunity to reach out to us for a consultation on how your AtomicMind advisor can help you demonstrate why you are a perfect fit for your dream ED2 school!

Early Decision 2 (EDII) Schools and Deadlines 2024-2025

Most Selective (admission rate less than 8%)

Pomona College 1/8/25

Swarthmore College 1/4/25

University of Chicago 1/6/25

Rice University 1/4/25

‍Highly Selective (admission rate between 8% and 12%)

Bowdoin College 1/6/25

Colby College 1/3/25

Colgate University 1/15/25

Claremont McKenna College 1/10/25

Emory University 1/1/25 - 11.4

NYU 1/1/25

Northeastern University 1/1/25

Tufts University 1/6/25

Vanderbilt University 1/1/25

Washington University 1/2/25

‍Very Selective (admission rate between 13% and 24%)

Bates College 1/10/25

Boston College 1/2/25

Boston University 1/6/25

Carleton College 1/15/25

College of the Holy Cross 1/15/25

Colorado College 1/15/25

Davidson College 1/6/25

Denison University 1/15/25

Grinnell College 1/5/25

Hamilton College 1/6/25

Haverford College 1/5/25

Harvey Mudd College 1/5/25

Middlebury College 1/3/25

Pitzer College 1/6/25

Smith College 1/1/25

Tulane University 1/15/25

Reed College 12/20/24

University of Miami 1/6/25

University of Richmond 1/1/25

Vassar College 1/1/25

Villanova University 1/15/25

Washington and Lee University 1/1/25

Wellesley College 1/1/25

Wesleyan University 1/1/25

‍Selective (admission rate between 25 and 60%)

American University 1/5/25

Bard College 1/1/25

Bennington College 1/15/25

Bentley University 1/15/25

Brandeis University 1/2/25

Bryn Mawr College 1/1/25

Bucknell University 1/15/25

Case Western Reserve University 1/15/25

Clark University 1/15/25

College of Wooster 1/15/25 

Dickinson College 1/15/25

Emerson College 1/3/25

Fairfield University 1/15/25

Fordham University 1/3/25

Franklin & Marshall College 1/6/25

George Washington University 1/5/25

Gettysburg College 1/15/25

Kenyon College 1/15/25

Lafayette College 1/15/25

Lake Forest College 1/15/25

Lehigh University 1/1/25

Loyola Marymount University 1/8/25

Macalaster College 1/1/25

Mount Holyoke College 1/3/25

Oberlin College 1/2/25

Occidental College 1/10/25

Providence College 1/15/25

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1/3/25

Rhodes College 1/15/25

Rollins College 1/5/25

Santa Clara University 1/7/25

Sarah Lawrence College 1/15/25

Scripps College 1/8/25

Skidmore College 1/8/25

Southern Methodist University 1/15/25

St. John’s College (MD) 1/15/25

St. John’s College (NM) 1/15/25

Stevens Institute of Technology 1/15/25

Syracuse University 1/5/25

Texas Christian University 2/1/25

Trinity College 1/17/25

Trinity University 2/1/25

Union College 1/15/25

University of Rochester 1/5/25

University of Vermont 1/15/25

Wake Forest University 1/1/25

Whitman College 1/10/15

William & Mary 1/5/25

Wofford College 1/15/25

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 1/5/25

‍Less Selective (admission rate between 61% and 75%)

Bryant University 1/15/25

Centre College 1/15/25

College of the Atlantic 1/15/25

DePauw University 12/15/24

Drew University 1/15/25

Furman University 1/15/25

Hampshire College 1/1/25

Hobart and William Smith College 1/15/25

Hollins University 1/3/25

Marist College 2/15/25

Muhlenberg College 2/1/25

Rochester Institute of Technology 1/1/25

Sacred Heart University 1/15/25

Springfield College 1/15/25

St. Olaf College 1/15/25

Stonehill College 2/1/25

University of Denver 1/15/25

University of San Francisco 1/15/25

‍Least Selective (admission rate over 75%)

College of Charleston 1/15/25

High Point University 2/1/25

Loyola University Maryland 1/15/25

Merrimack College 1/15/25

Saint Josephs University 1/15/25

Saint Louis University 1/15/25

St. Mary’s College of Maryland 1/15/25

Wheaton College 1/15/25

‍