It may sound like a Star Wars character, but it is actually an important admissions strategy.
What is ED2?
ED2 stands for Early Decision Round 2. It allows you to send in a binding application after the earliest dates have past (generally after you have heard from your standard ED schools). If you are a qualified applicant, you may have a slightly better chance of acceptance. The binding nature of an ED2 acceptance allows schools to keep their yield rate high and thus, their selectivity rate low.
What is ED2 not?
ED2 is not a panacea. If you are not a strong applicant on your own, applying ED2 will not help. It is also not a strategy to use at more than one school. It is required for you to attend if you are accepted. When schools learn that you applied to multiple ED2 schools, your acceptance will likely be revoked.
Where can I apply with it?
Note: Schools may update their policies. Always confirm with a school official.
American University
Bard College
Bates College
Boston University
Bennington College
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Bryant University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Claremont McKenna Colleges
Colby College
Colgate University
College of the Atlantic
College of Wooster
Colorado College
Connecticut College
Davidson College
Denison College
Dickinson College
Emory University
Franklin & Marshall College
George Washington University
Gettysburg College
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Hampshire College
Harvey Mudd College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Juniata College
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Macalester College
Middlebury College
Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Northeastern University
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Pomona College
Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhodes College
Saint Olaf College
Sarah Lawrence College
Scripps College
Sewanee: The University of the South
Skidmore College
Smith College
Swarthmore College
Trinity College
Trinity University
Tufts University
Union College
University of Chicago
University of Miami
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Whitman College
Is ED2 right for me?
You should only apply ED2 if you are certain that you would attend the school upon acceptance. It is a strategic move, so it is best suited for schools you are confident you are qualified for. The three most common reasons to apply ED2 are:
You were not accepted by your ED1 school.
You were not ready in time for the ED1 deadline.
You recently decided that you are more committed to one particular institution.
Need more advice? Contact KaiZenithAdmissions@gmail.com.