Early Decision/Early Action: Does the Early Bird Get the Worm? (continued)

Are You Ready to Commit?

If several of your classmates are working on early decision applications, you may feel some pressure to do the same. But resist the temptation to apply early decision unless you truly are ready to commit to one college.

"The only good reason to apply Early Decision is if you're 100 percent sure you want to attend the college," says Paul Levitch, president of Levitch Associates, LLC, an independent counseling firm.

The only way you can be 100 percent sure is if you've done the work that leads to a good decision. Ask yourself these questions:

• Have I thoroughly researched this college and other colleges that may interest me?
• Have I visited this college while classes are in session and met with someone at the admission office?
• Have I explored my academic, extracurricular and social options at this college?
• Have I talked to a financial aid officer to get an estimate of college costs and to find out how Early Decision could affect my aid package?
• Have I discussed this decision with my family and/or guidance counselor?
• Is this a true first choice, or are there other colleges that still interest me?

If you're at all unsure about your first choice, applying Early Action (which does not require a commitment and allows you to apply to other schools) or regular decision is your best option. There is no need to limit your college choices this early, unless you truly want to.

Do Early Application Plans Affect Financial Aid?

If you need financial aid, you'll probably need to complete a CSS Profile or the college's institutional form at about the same time as the early decision application. The college financial aid office can then send you a tentative financial aid package (tentative until you can send the college your tax return and other supporting documentation). Each college does this a little differently, so check with the financial aid office or admission office of the college to be certain of their procedures.

What if your early decision college does not offer you enough financial aid?
"If the financial aid package is insufficient, we will release the early-decision-admitted student from the Early Decision obligation," says Richard C. Vos, vice president and dean of admission and financial aid at Claremont McKenna College (CA). "If the initial aid offer in mid-December is seen as inadequate, we encourage the family to have a conversation with our financial aid director. That process almost always resolves the problem."

However, Early Decision may not be the best choice if you want to compare financial aid packages between colleges.

"My advice to students is this: If you want the chance to compare aid packages, don't apply early decision," says Christopher Hooker-Haring, dean of admission and financial aid at Muhlenberg College (PA). "Go regular decision and then line your aid packages up in the spring and see what the results are."

Advantage to Applying Early?

Many students make an effort to apply through one of the early application programs because they hope to beat the competition of regular decision. Although most colleges have a smaller number of applications in their early programs, whether it's easier to get accepted early than later depends on each college's policies.