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If you're applying early decision, then you've already accomplished something pretty rare in the college application process—you know exactly where you want to go to college!

This guide goes over your timeline for applying early decision and provides a comprehensive list of deadlines for all early decision schools. Read on to learn everything you will need to know about applying early decision to your dream school.

What You Need to Know About Early Decision

Early decision is a unique option when it comes to applying to college because it's binding. That's why you should only apply this way if you're 100% sure you want to go to the school and will be able to enroll regardless of the financial aid offer you receive.

If you apply early decision, you'll sign a statement of binding agreement to enroll. Since this is a big commitment, most colleges with early decision also require your parents and school counselor to sign this form, which can usually be found online through the Common Application or a school's individual application form.

Early decision might or might not actually have an early deadline. The traditional deadlines are in November, usually the 1st or the 15th, and you're typically notified of the admissions decision in December.

Some schools now also offer Early Decision II. Early Decision II is still binding, but the deadline is pushed forward, usually to sometime in January. This option is for applicants who are decided on a specific college but could benefit from a few more months to prepare their applications. Applicants who apply ED II will get their admissions decision earlier than usual, typically in February.

Regardless of whether you apply Early Decision I or II, all early decision applicants have to accept their offers and send in their deposits quickly after notification, rather than waiting until the national response date of May 1.

If you're applying Early Decision I, your challenge is to prepare the strongest application you can by the November deadline. Let's look at a possible timeline for gathering your application materials.

Timeline for Applying Early Decision

If you're applying early decision, it's probably safe to say that you're excited about attending your school of choice. To make this happen, though, you want to submit the strongest application you can.

For the SAT/ACT, you'll want to start prepping months in advance, even a year or more.

If your early decision deadline is in November, your last opportunity to take the ACT or SAT will be in September or October. At this point, you probably won't be able to view your scores before deciding whether to send them off to colleges. To put less pressure on yourself, you could test earlier and have your scores all set by the end of your junior year.

You might also ask your junior-year teachers for recommendations at the end of junior year, when your work will be fresh in their minds. At the absolute latest, you want to ask your counselor and teachers for recommendations a month before your deadline. In most cases, you should ask by October 1.

You also want to give your high school at least three weeks' to a month's notice for sending off your transcript and any other official documents that need to be sent to colleges. You might have to fill out a form and pay a small fee.

Finally, you should work on your personal essay and any other supplemental application essays over the summer before senior year. Writing the personal essay is a process, and you want to give yourself time to brainstorm, draft, get feedback, and revise.

You can spend September and October filling out your college applications, writing about your extracurricular activities, and proofreading what you've written for any errors or typos. As long as you start planning and preparing your application months in advance, you should be good to go for your early decision deadline.

To recap, here's what your schedule might look like if you're applying Early Decision I:

If you're applying Early Decision II, you'll have more available test dates to take the SAT/ACT. You might also send your mid-year senior grades on your transcript. Waiting for this later deadline, if available, can be a good option if you're not totally satisfied with your academic record and test scores and feel you could present a stronger candidacy in January.

Now that you have a sense of the early decision application process, let's look at the deadlines of some popular schools. Some offer Early Decision II, while others don't have that second deadline (these ones say "N/A").

Early Decision Deadlines of Popular Schools

It tends to be smaller schools that offer Early Decision II, perhaps so they can have greater control over their enrollment numbers. The next chart is a comprehensive list of all the schools with early decision and their respective deadlines.

Early Decision Deadlines of All Schools

The following schools are listed in alphabetical order, so you can either scroll through the chart or use ctrl + F to jump straight to your school of interest.

Early decision can be a great option as it communicates to your school of choice how enthusiastic and committed you are to attending.

If your school offers Early Decision II and you feel you could benefit from a few more months to work on your application, it makes sense to wait for this later deadline. Either way, you'll find out earlier than regular notification if you got into your first-choice school!

What's Next?

Want to apply early but aren't sure about signing a binding agreement? This guide has the comprehensive list of all the colleges that offer early action.

Not sure applying early to college is right for you? Then take a look at the the most common college application deadlines to get an idea of what your application timeline could look like.

As you fill out your college applications, you want to think about how to present your high school resume in the best possible light. Read our expert guide for tips on how to write about your extracurricular activities on your college application.