Colleges offer any number of special programs, from combined degree programs like BS/MDs, joint degrees where you earn two degrees simultaneously, and honors colleges which offer you additional resources and degree options. We’ve spoken about these before, showcasing them generally and specifically, highlighting options many of the students we work with have found quite appealing. One question arises again and again, especially at this time of year: can you apply to these programs Early Decision? The answer: Yes* (sometimes). That asterisk, and that sometimes, are what we’re going to discuss in this article, laying out how and if you can apply to these programs early decision, and whether or not doing so is a good strategic choice for you to pursue. Let’s jump in!
A Brief Note on Early Decision
Before we dive into the details of how particular programs work, we’re going to give a brief overview of how the Early Decision process works generally, so you can see how it can differ slightly for these special programs.
When you apply ED, you make a binding commitment to attend a particular college if you are accepted. You can only apply to a single college ED; colleges share with each other lists of who has applied ED, and if you apply to more than one in this way, they will all summarily reject you.
Applying ED significantly increases your chances of acceptance to a school. You must still be qualified, but there is less competition for spots, and colleges like admitting people they know are eager to attend, and who have committed to doing so. This is because yield, the percentage of admitted students who attend, is one factor used to determine a college’s ranking.
Some, but not all, colleges also offer ED II, a second round of Early Decision admissions with a deadline equivalent to that of the regular decision deadline. This functions the same as ED, but offers a slightly lower boost to admissions chances. If you applied to one college ED and got rejected, you may apply to a different college ED II.
The one legitimate way to get out of attending a school you have applied to ED is if they do not offer you sufficient financial aid for you to attend. You can also simply not go, but this is considered bad form. There aren’t any real penalties for just not going, but it is considered rude.
Applying to Special Programs Early Decision
Now that we’ve covered the basics of how ED applications work, we’ll look at the nuances of how applying to special programs works when you apply early decision. We’ll go through different classes of special programs separately, as they all tend to work similarly.
Applying to BS/MD Programs Early Decision
There are three BS/MD programs with attached undergraduate programs good enough that students ask us about applying to them ED on a regular basis: Brown, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Rochester. All three of these programs have a similar approach: you may apply to the BS/MD program ED, but if you do, if you are admitted to the university ED but not to the special program, you are still committed to attend the university.
For all three, applying ED does grant a boost to getting into the university proper, but it is unclear if it gives a similar boost to gaining entry to the BS/MD program. These programs are hypercompetitive even by the standards of Ivy League admissions, admitting a scant handful of students each year.
These are all great schools, and if you think you would like to attend one for undergraduate regardless of whether or not you got into their BS/MD program, then applying ED may be a good choice. If, however, your primary goal is to take part in a BS/MD program, then we recommend not applying to one of these schools ED. If they and a different BS/MD program both let you in, you would be stuck attending an undergraduate program without the attached medical degree. Still at a great school, but not in one of the programs you were looking for.
Applying to Joint Degree Programs Early Decision
Unlike BS/MD programs, joint degree programs are far more varied. First, of course, not every school offering a joint degree program offers ED applications at all; Berkeley’s MET program can only be applied to through the UC App, which does not have an ED option at all. Therefore, we’re going to go through these programs in a table, linking to them and letting you know if you can apply ED, and what caveats there are.
| Program | Can You Apply ED? | Caveats |
| UPenn Huntsman | Yes | You can apply ED to just the program, or to the program and a regular Penn degree |
| UPenn M&T | Yes | You can apply ED to just the program, or to the program and a regular Penn degree |
| Berkeley MET | No | |
| Georgetown BGA | No | Only current students may apply |
| USC Iovine and Young | Yes | ED applications are for this program only |
| Carnegie Mellon BXA | Yes | ED Programs are for this program only |
Special programs do tend to follow similar structures within a university, but vary widely between schools. All of the special programs at UPenn, for example, can be applied to ED to the program alone, or ED to the program and to a single degree within Penn. Other schools have you solely apply ED to the program in question, while certain programs don’t allow for ED applications at all, either because of the structure of the program, or because the college in question does not participate in ED admissions.
In general, if one of these programs is a clear top choice for you, and they offer the option to apply ED, then we advise doing it. Applying ED to these programs tends to provide a small boost to your admissions chances; not a guarantee of getting in, but a bit of assistance in a very competitive field.
For UPenn specifically, whether or not you apply to a single degree program as well when applying ED depends on how much you like UPenn specifically, and how much you’re just interested in a dual degree program. These programs are more competitive than UPenn as a whole, so if attending the school at all is a priority, we advise applying to both ED.
Applying to Honors Colleges Early Decision
Honors colleges exist at both public and private universities, but are far more common at public ones. While these public colleges sometimes offer Early Decision, most do not, and honors colleges follow the same admissions pathways as the broader schools they are part of. In most cases, therefore, it isn’t possible to apply to honors colleges Early Decision at all.
While there are some universities with honors colleges that offer an ED path, at these schools you must generally apply to the college as a whole before you gain access to an honors college application. Indeed, this is how applying to honors colleges generally works. For this reason, there is generally no way to apply to an honors college itself ED, and no way to turn down an acceptance if you don’t get in to an honors college.
There are a number of excellent honors colleges, many of which offer benefits akin to what you find at top universities. We advise, however, not applying to the attached schools ED, even if they do offer it. If an honors college is your top choice, we do advise not applying to other schools ED, as those might draw you away from it.
Applying to Five-Year Programs Early Decision
There are two common types of five-year programs that our students are interested in applying to:
- Fifth-year master’s programs: These are programs where you complete both an undergraduate and a master’s degree program at a single university in five years.
- 3+2 Programs: These are programs where you begin a degree at one college and end at another, generally so students can earn an engineering degree in combination with a liberal arts degree while beginning their education at a college which doesn’t offer an engineering option.
For both of these programs, you cannot apply to the full program until you are an enrolled student, and often not until your second year of undergrad. There isn’t a way to apply to these programs ED at all. You can apply to the college which offers the program ED; this improves your chance of getting into that school, but has no impact on whether or not you eventually get into the desired program.
If a school is your top choice beyond the five year program, then applying ED is often a very good choice. That said, you do need to have a backup plan in case you can’t manage to get into the five-year program; though these are often very good schools which will do a good job setting you up to succeed regardless.
Final Thoughts
Applying Early Decision is one of the best ways to improve your chances of getting into a top college, but it isn’t a miracle, nor is it the right choice for every student and every situation. We hope that this article has given you insight into some of the nuances that surround ED applications, and whether or not applying ED is the right choice for your collegiate plan.
If you are looking for help understanding some of the nuances and quirks of your own admissions pathway, or advice on crafting your ED application, then Ivy Scholars can help. Our mentors are skilled at guiding students through every step of the admissions process, and have the depth of knowledge needed to help you understand what options are best suited to your goals. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.
