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Guide/07 Building Your College Strategy

Early Decision, Early Action & Demonstrated Interest

How much applying early really helps, ED vs. EA vs. restrictive EA vs. ED II, the money risk of binding decisions, and which kinds of demonstrated interest matter.

Chapter 68 of 864 min readUpdated October 1, 2026 Preview

At many selective colleges, Early Decision applicants are admitted at two to five times the rate of Regular Decision applicants. That's the single biggest strategic lever most students have, and also the one with the biggest strings attached.

This chapter explains every early option, what the numbers really mean, how to choose your early school, the financial risk of a binding decision, and what "demonstrated interest" means and doesn't...

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What’s in this chapter

  1. 1The early options
  2. 2How much does applying early help?
  3. 3How to choose your early school
  4. 4The money question
  5. 5After an early decision
  6. 6ED II: a second chance to commit
  7. 7Demonstrated interest