A college admission plan offered by some institutions allows students to apply early with a binding commitment after the regular Early Decision deadline has passed. This option provides applicants who were not ready to apply during the first early cycle, or who were deferred from Early Action programs, another opportunity to express strong interest in a particular school. For example, a student might apply through this plan in January, with a decision expected in February, unlike the standard Early Decision, which usually has deadlines in November and decisions released in December.
The availability of this admission round can be advantageous for students who need more time to strengthen their application or for those who have only recently identified a school as their top choice. It demonstrates a heightened level of interest to the institution, potentially increasing the chances of acceptance compared to the Regular Decision pool. Historically, this option arose to cater to students needing additional time for application preparation or those seeking an alternative to the traditional Early Decision timeline.
