If I get deferred early action to a school, can I then switch to ED II?

[courtneyl19]

I applied early action to Colorado College. It is my top choice, and I originally didn’t apply ED for financial reasons. However, their regular decision acceptance rate is only 5% so I’m terrified that if I don’t get in EA, I won’t get in at all. Is it possible to switch to ED II if I do get deferred?

[Groundwork2022]

EA still has higher odds than RD:

Early Decision (1 and 2): 31.4%
Early Action: 17.4%
Regular Action: 6.2%

You still have time to switch to ED2 if you want, but I would think your EA decision would come in at around the same time anyway. The finances would be your deciding factor. There is no point switching to ED2 if you can’t afford to attend. This appears to be a school that values DI, so if you’ve shown them enough love, you might take your chances with EA so you can compare FA offers.

[momofboiler1]

You can ED II to another school but I believe if a school defers you, it moves you to regular decision.

[2019RuralMe]

Why would you want to apply ED2 if they defer you? Your original EA shows as much interest as possible (without ED), & if they defer you then they are saying: “not now, we want to see more of what you can do” OR it’s a “nice” way of saying “no” and letting you down easily.

Wouldn’t you rather use your ED2 somewhere else? Or just apply everywhere else without ED2 so you can maximize your opportunity to compare financial aid packages?

[courtneyl19]

My thought process is that if I get deferred early action and decide that it is still my top choice, switching to ED II would show commitment and have a higher acceptance rate than ending up in the RD pool.

[Mwfan1921]

Most schools will not let you switch to EDII if deferred from EA (or EDI). The reason for the deferral from EA or ED is typically that the AOs want to see how the applicant stacks up against others in the larger RD pool.

Here is what CC’s website says:

If I am not admitted under Early Action or Early Decision, will my file be reviewed at later date?
The admission committee will choose to admit, defer, or deny applicants if they choose to apply Early Action or Early Decision. Deferred applicants will be reviewed in our Regular Action pool and will either be admitted or denied in March. Students denied admission will not be reviewed again during that application cycle. All admission decisions are final, and there is no appeal process at Colorado College.

[Erin_s_Dad]

^ Yes. If you are deferred then you go into the RD pool

[lookingforward]

Always smart to start with what the college says.

See post 5.

[evergreen5]

Hmm… I was under the impression that UChicago either allows this or sometimes makes phone calls to specific ea-deferred applicants suggesting ed2.

[Erin_s_Dad]

Perhaps Chicago does do that. Colorado College which the OP asked about has this policy:

The admission committee will choose to admit, defer, or deny applicants if they choose to apply Early Action or Early Decision. Deferred applicants will be reviewed in our Regular Action pool and will either be admitted or denied in March. Students denied admission will not be reviewed again during that application cycle. All admission decisions are final, and there is no appeal process at Colorado College

https://www.coloradocollege.edu/admission/application/early/

[Eeyore123]

Hmm… I was under the impression that UChicago either allows this or sometimes makes phone calls to specific ea-deferred applicants suggesting ed2.

Why do I have the feeling that UC’s main goal is to manage their USNWR rankings?