5 colleges I want to apply to offer ED, but my top choice doesn't...

<p>Should I apply to any of the 5 ED? There's one that would be my 2nd choice, but I want to make sure that if I get into my first choice that I can go. Please help!</p>

<p>If you aren’t 100% you want to go to it, or there is a school you want more, don’t apply ED. You don’t want to be bound to a school that you don’t want. There is nothing wrong with applying RD!</p>

<p>Based on the statement, “I want to make sure that if I get into my first choice that I can go”, you have answered your own question.</p>

<p>If you apply ED to your second choice and you are accepted, you must immediately withdraw applications to all other schools. You will never know if you would have been accepted to your first choice.</p>

<p>There is typically a statistical advantage to applying ED (although this advantage is usually exagerrated). However there is a much more powerful advantage to displaying interest and knowledge of your first choice school in your application. Make sure that they know it is your first choice - maybe ask your GC to mention this as well.</p>

<p>ED, like stated above, is binding so no, you shouldn’t apply to a 2nd choice school ED, because then you’d have no chance at your top school. Now if you mean EA, which isn’t binding, then go for it, do all 5.</p>

<p>No, you shouldn’t apply to a school ED unless it is your top choice.</p>

<p>ED only for your top choice, and where you are willing to make a go / no-go decision without being able to compare its financial aid offer with those from other schools.</p>

<p>I am admittedly reading between the lines here, but perhaps OP wants to apply (binding) ED to Choice #2 as well as (non-binding) EA to Choice #1. If accepted to both, claim insufficient FA and back out from ED contract to Choice #2 and attend Choice #1.</p>

<p>This would be a risky and troublesome strategy, even if the timing did work out. In order to apply ED, an applicant, as well as the high school’s GC, must sign a contract agreeing to attend the ED school if accepted. Backing out on this commitment would reflect poorly on the high school for future years admissions, as well as on the integrity of the applicant.</p>

<p>I hope I am wrong about my supposition. However, every fall there are posts trying to figure out ways to game the Early rules.</p>