Early Decision II (ED2) has become a critical strategic lever for students who want to maximize their admissions odds at a top-choice school, especially after an ED1 rejection or deferral. While ED2 is not as widely offered as ED1, the schools that do offer it use it intentionally, and understanding that strategy helps you decide if ED2 is the right move.

Below is a refreshed guide to how ED2 works today, when applying ED2 creates a competitive advantage, and an updated list of colleges that offer it for this application cycle.

Why Colleges Offer Early Decision (ED1 & ED2)

Colleges use ED to manage yield, shape the class early, and lock in committed applicants. In both ED1 and ED2:

• Admission rates are higher than in Regular Decision, not because ED students are “less qualified,” but because the applicant signals certainty.
• Yield is 100% at the point of admission, which directly strengthens institutional selectivity metrics.
• Risk is lower for colleges: with fewer unknowns, they make more confident decisions earlier in the cycle.

ED2 serves the same purpose, but it lets schools secure more committed applicants after they’ve analyzed their ED1 round, early trends, and Regular Decision volumes.

ED1 vs ED2: What’s the Difference?

ED1:

• Deadline: November 1–15
• Decision: Mid-December
• Ideal for students who have a clear first choice early in the cycle.

ED2:

• Deadline: Typically January 1–15 (aligned with Regular Decision)
• Decision: Early to mid-February
• Ideal for students whose priorities evolve or whose ED1 outcome shifts their strategy.

Both are binding. Both show maximum demonstrated interest. Both deliver earlier answers than Regular Decision. The only real difference is timing, which has implications for readiness, academic record, testing, and fit.

When Does Applying ED2 Make Strategic Sense?

1. You didn’t get into your ED1 school or you were deferred.

ED2 gives you a very real second swing at a binding plan. Between mid-December and early January, you still have a window to reposition your narrative, finalize essays, and signal certainty to another top-choice school.

2. Your profile is stronger in January than in November.

ED2 can capitalize on:

• A strong fall semester transcript
• New awards, publications, or leadership roles
• Improved test scores
• More robust letters of recommendation
• Opportunities to engage with the school (visit, interview, info sessions)

If your application materially improves by January, ED2 is often a better call than forcing a weaker ED1.

3. You were not ready to commit early.

Some students simply need more time for:

• Financial planning
• Clarifying academic goals
• Identifying the right fit
• Building confidence in their profile

ED2 lets you make a binding choice later in the cycle without losing the strategic benefit.

4. You missed the ED1 deadline but have a clear top choice now.

This is especially common when priorities shift during fall, after more research, campus visits, or conversations with advisors.

When ED2 Is Not Advisable

ED2 is binding. It should be used only when:

• You are certain this is your top-choice school at the moment you apply.
• You have verified the financial aid model and can commit if admitted.
• You have not already applied to that school ED1 (binding plans cannot be doubled).

If you are not ready to commit or have financial uncertainty, Regular Decision may be the better strategic posture.

How ED2 Selectivity Really Works

A persistent misconception: “ED2 is less valuable because most seats were taken in ED1.”

Not quite. Here’s the operational reality:

• ED2 admit rates are typically lower than ED1 but meaningfully higher than Regular Decision.
• Colleges still use ED2 to secure committed yield, especially as they monitor real-time Regular Decision volume and academic distribution.
• ED2 is often the round where schools correct for class-building gaps that ED1 didn’t fill (e.g., academic balance, geography, diversity of interests).

In other words: ED2 is not ED1-lite. It’s still a yield-management tool, and that makes it powerful.

What If You’re Deferred or Rejected in ED2?

If Deferred:

• Submit a Letter of Continued Interest immediately.
• Include new accomplishments, updated grades, test scores, or commitments.
• Reaffirm that the school is your clear first choice.
• Reconnect with their admissions ecosystem (virtual events, regional reps, etc.).

If Rejected:

It’s time to pivot with purpose.

• Re-engage with your Regular Decision schools.
• Revisit campuses or attend virtual events to refine your preferences.
• Prepare mentally for March decisions so the final choice feels grounded, not reactive.

Updated List of Colleges and Universities Offering ED2 (2025-6 Cycle)

American University - January 15

‍‍Babson College - January 2

‍‍Bates College - January 10 (you can even convert your regular application to ED by various deadlines)

‍‍Bennington College - January 10

‍‍Bentley University - January 15

‍‍Boston University - January 5

‍‍Bowdoin College - January 5

‍‍Brandeis University - January 15

‍‍Bryn Mawr College - January 1

‍‍Bucknell University - January 15

‍‍Carleton College - January 15

‍Case Western Reserve University - January 15

‍‍Claremont McKenna College - January 10

‍‍Colby College - January 5

‍‍Colgate University - January 15

‍‍College of the Holy Cross - January 15

‍‍College of William and Mary - January 5

‍‍College of Wooster - January 15

‍‍Colorado College - January 15

‍‍Connecticut College - January 15

‍‍Davidson College - January 5

‍‍Denison College - January 15

‍Dickinson College - January 15

‍Emory University - January 1

‍‍Franklin & Marshall College - January 15

‍George Washington University - January 5

‍‍Gettysburg College - January 15

‍‍Grinnell College - January 5

‍‍Hamilton College - January 5

‍‍Harvey Mudd College - January 5

‍‍Haverford College - January 5

‍‍Hobart and William Smith Colleges - January 15

‍‍Johns Hopkins University - January 2

‍‍Kenyon College - January 15

‍‍Lafayette College - January 15

‍‍Lehigh University - January 1

‍‍Macalester College - January 1

‍‍Middlebury College - January 5

‍Mount Holyoke College - January 5

‍New York University - January 1

‍‍Northeastern University - January 1

‍‍Oberlin College - January 2

‍‍Occidental College - January 10

‍‍Pitzer College - January 2

‍‍Pomona College - January 8

‍‍Reed College - January 15

‍‍Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - January 5

‍‍Rhodes College - January 15

‍‍Santa Clara University - January 7

‍‍Sarah Lawrence College - January 15

‍Scripps College - January 8

‍‍Sewanee: The University of the South - January 15

‍Skidmore College - January 8

‍Smith College - January 5

‍‍St. Olaf College - January 15

‍‍Swarthmore College - January 4

‍‍Trinity College - January 15

‍‍Trinity University - February 1

‍‍Tufts University - January 5

‍Tulane University - January 15

‍Union College - January 15

‍‍University of Chicago - January 5

‍‍University of Miami - January 5

‍University of Richmond - January 1

‍Vanderbilt University - January 1

‍‍Vassar College - January 8

‍‍Wake Forest University - January 1

‍‍Washington and Lee University - January 1

‍‍Washington University in St. Louis - January 2

‍Wellesley College - January 5

‍‍Wesleyan University - January 1

‍‍Whitman College - January 10

Interested in optimizing your ED2 strategy?

AtomicMind brings decades of admissions experience to help families navigate high-stakes decisions like ED2 with clarity and confidence. If you’re considering ED2, reach out for a consultation — we’ll help you build a plan that is both strategic and realistic.

About the Author: As a Head Advisor, Lucas helps students ask the questions that matter: Who am I? What do I care about? Where am I going? An award-winning Harvard philosophy researcher who studied at both Harvard and Oxford, he's spent years teaching students of all ages how to think clearly about themselves, their interests, and their futures. Beyond his work with students,Lucas can often be found lost in a fantasy novel or a philosophy book.