If you’re applying to colleges in the United States, you may have heard of the Common Application. This platform streamlines the application process by allowing students to fill out one application and send it to multiple colleges. One of the options available on the Common Application is early decision.

Early decision is an agreement between a student and a college in which the student agrees to attend the college if accepted. In return, the college agrees to give the student an admission decision earlier than regular decision applicants. This can be helpful for students who have a clear first choice college and want to know if they’ve been admitted as soon as possible.

The Common Application has a specific early decision agreement that students must sign if they choose to apply early decision. This agreement states that the student will only apply to one college early decision and will withdraw all other applications if accepted to the early decision college.

This agreement is binding, which means that if a student is accepted to a college early decision, they must attend that college. It’s important for students to carefully consider this before applying early decision. If financial aid is a concern, students should make sure to research the college’s policies on early decision financial aid.

There are a few exceptions to the binding nature of the early decision agreement. If a student is not offered enough financial aid to attend the college, they may be released from the agreement. Similarly, if there is a significant change in the student’s family situation, such as a job loss or medical emergency, they may be released from the agreement.

It’s important for students to carefully read and understand the early decision agreement before signing it on the Common Application. This can help prevent any surprises or misunderstandings during the college application process.

In conclusion, the Common Application early decision agreement is a binding agreement between a student and a college. It’s important for students to carefully consider their options before signing the agreement and to thoroughly research the college’s policies on early decision. By doing so, students can make an informed decision about their college applications.