<p>*I want to apply early decision to one of these five colleges…</p>
<p>… Any suggestions or input?*"</p>
<p>None of them. IMHO, ED should be used only at that one dream school above all other. It’s a looooong time from November to September to make such a commitment to a school that you only “like” at the moment; there’s plenty of time to regret the decision. Decide in late April instead.</p>