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Applying early decision means putting in a single application to your dream school in the hopes that you’ll be accepted before they review applications from most students. This is a good idea for high school students in many instances but is generally a poor choice when applying to med school.
Early decision (ED) for undergrad schools is binding, but not technically a legal contract. If you break an early decision agreement, there will likely be consequences — but not legal consequences.
Medical school ED is more binding because it is more standardized. AMCAS regulates when you can apply early decision, making sure you can’t apply anywhere else, and may notify other institutions if you break your ED contract.
Applicants who are a great choice for early decision typically have high GPAs, a good portfolio of extracurricular activities, and high ACT/SAT or MCAT scores. Most high school students applying early decision generally need to do so by November of their senior year, whereas pre-meds applying to a medical program may apply throughout their junior year, senior year, or after a gap year.
Note: Some schools call their ED program “restrictive early action.” Non-restrictive early action is different from ED, but restrictive early action is generally the same. Each undergrad and med school may have a slightly different set of terminology.
I’m Dr. Renee Marinelli. I’ve helped thousands of students like you get into pre-med programs and medical school. Below, I walk you through what you need to know about deadlines, differences, and the consequences of breaking early decision agreements.
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Early Decision + Undergrad
Many undergraduate schools offer early decision application programs. They are not as binding as med school ED programs, and they don’t disadvantage students who apply but don’t get accepted in the early decision process.
If you have a top-choice school and aren’t concerned with being able to compare financial aid offers, it’s a great move for many high-quality applicants. Early decision acceptance rates for high school students are two times higher than regular decision at some schools!
Plus, undergrad ED decisions come out in mid-December. This means that you’ll still be able to meet the deadline for regular decision applications (most of which are in January) if your first choice rejects your ED application. This is very different from applying early decision to medical school, which puts you at a serious disadvantage because of the rolling admissions process.
The biggest disadvantage of undergrad ED is that you agree to an offer of admission before receiving a financial aid package. You won’t be able to choose your college based on the real cost of attendance, as you would during regular decision.
Read Next: Plan Ahead for Med School While in High School
When Are Early Decision Undergrad Deadlines?
Though application deadlines may vary, undergrad early decision deadlines are usually November 1. Some schools may have a November 15 deadline. Notifications usually go out a month later, in mid-December.
For the few schools that offer “Early Decision II,” which is simply a second round of ED, the deadline is typically January 1 or January 15. Notifications for EDII usually go out by mid-February.
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How Binding Are Early Decision College Admissions?
Early decision is considered binding, while early action is generally not considered binding.
Are early decisions legally binding? No, early decisions to undergrad colleges are not legally binding agreements, but I would call them “ethically binding.” There may be consequences to breaking a good-faith commitment to a university.
Is it possible to get out of an early decision agreement? If you are experiencing a financial or family emergency, many schools will understand and work with you. Some may excuse you from an early decision plan, while others may let you push back your start date.
What Are the Consequences of Withdrawing an Early Decision Undergrad Application?
- Losing your application or enrollment deposit. Some undergrad schools require non-refundable deposits of up to hundreds of dollars.
- Losing your acceptance. If you apply early decision to an undergrad school, get accepted, and then withdraw your application, it goes without saying that you’ll lose that acceptance.
- Damaging your reputation. If you turn down the school that offers you ED acceptance, it may hurt your reputation. Higher learning institutions communicate with one another, and it’s possible that you’ll be seen as an unreliable or undesirable applicant.
Early Decision For Medical School
You can apply early decision for medical school if you have exceptional scores and you know exactly where you want to attend. However, I recommend avoiding ED for nearly every applicant so that they can apply to many schools and increase their chances of acceptance.
Here are the most common questions I get from students who do choose to apply early decision to med school.
When Are Early Decision Medical School Deadlines?
Unlike undergrad ED, med school early decision is standardized by the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). The early decision deadline for medical schools is August 1. The decision notification deadline is October 1.
If you apply early decision to a med school, you may not submit regular decision applications to any medical schools unless you receive a rejection on October 1. This puts you at a huge disadvantage because the application process is rolling, and many applicants will have submitted as early as May. By the time October rolls around, schools will already have interviewed thousands of candidates and may have even offered a few acceptances.
It’s still possible to get into medical school if you submit after October 1, but your odds will be greatly reduced. This is ultimately why applying ED isn’t a good idea for 99% of med school applicants.
Are Med School Early Decisions Legally Binding?
Early decision is considered binding, while early action is not.
Are med school early decisions legally binding? Early decision contracts are legally binding in a way. You cannot apply via AMCAS to other med schools if you apply to one school early decision.
Depending on your circumstance, there may be additional consequences to breaking an ED school contract.
If you are experiencing an emergency concerning a family member or financial reasons, some schools will understand and work with you. Some med schools may excuse you from your early decision contract, while others may allow you to simply push back your start date.
What Happens if You Break an Early Decision Contract for Med School?
- Losing your application or enrollment deposit. Some medical schools require non-refundable deposits of up to thousands of dollars.
- Losing your acceptance. If you break an early decision contract to a med school, the school will likely withdraw your acceptance offer.
- Damaging your reputation. If you turn down the school that offers you ED acceptance, that school will likely notify other med schools, damaging your reputation and decreasing your chances of acceptance. The professional and ethical damage to your reputation may follow you past the application process into your career.
- Reporting to AMCAS. The AMCAS has policies in place regarding ED application. If you break an ED contract, the medical school may report this to AMCAS, which could further impact your application process.
Don’t Navigate These Decisions Alone
When it comes to early decision, you don’t have to navigate these decisions alone. Early application may seem beneficial, but you don’t want to paint yourself into a corner of the admissions process. Here are some things to consider:
- You must abide by your ED admission decision. If you’re not 100% sure about your top-choice school, avoid undergrad and medical college early decision admission.
- An early action plan is an alternative to an ED agreement that may slightly improve your chances of acceptance yet is not binding. The main benefit of early action is that it allows you to hear back from schools faster, which could save you some stress. Plus, if you get into a great school via early action, you don’t need to apply elsewhere, saving you time and money. Read more about early action deadlines here.
- Seeking application consulting services tends to greatly increase your odds of acceptance. At MedSchoolCoach, our 500,000+ coaching hours have led to a 98% satisfaction rate from 15,000+ individuals like you.
