Early Decision

Is Early Decision right for you?  Well if it is, I hope you got your application in 4 days ago, because that was the ED1 deadline!  But there's still hope for you if GW is your absolute 100% positive favorite school on your application list.  We have Early Decision II, which is due January 10th!

The thing about ED applications, whether you apply for the first or second deadline, is that they are BINDING.  Full disclosure: I applied early decision, but NOT to GW.  I was deferred to regular decision (which they do sometimes), and in the time between not being accepted ED and when decisions came out in April, I realized that I didn't want to go to that school anymore AT ALL.  In fact, my interests changed almost entirely, and I had my heart set on a different major, a different school, and even a different city!

For that reason, I am soooo glad my ED experience didn't work out--I couldn't imagine how my life would be if I had gone anywhere else.  But that's not to say that the choice isn't right for some people--perhaps people who did better college research than I did?  Or rather, better on-site research?  (I visited only 3 of the schools I applied to...)

Here's what the admissions page says about Early Decision:

"Early decision is a great option if you are certain that GW is your first choice. If you elect to apply early decision, GW has two binding deadlines—November 10 and January 10—from which to choose. Students admitted early decision will receive priority registration for orientation and housing selection. They are given the same consideration for scholarships and, if applicable, need-based financial assistance as students admitted regular decision.
Please keep in mind that early decision at GW is binding. If admitted, you agree to attend GW, to submit a nonrefundable enrollment fee by the deposit deadline and to withdraw all applications submitted to other colleges. "

The ED2 deadline is the same as the Regular Decision deadline (01/10/2011), so that allows you plenty of time to think everything over and be absolutely sure that this is the place you want to be--though I can't imagine why it wouldn't be!

Questions on ED2... or anything?  Email me!  ShireenS@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~Shireen