Liberal Arts Colleges like Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Davidson College, Pomona College, Swarthmore College, and Wellesley College don’t just offer academic excellence; they also offer Early Decision 2. Additionally, National Universities like Carnegie Mellon University, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt also offer Early Decision 2. 

Together, these academic powerhouses are just a few of over 100 US colleges that offer students a way to demonstrate their commitment, potentially improving their chances of admission.

‍What is Early Decision 2?‍

Early Decision 2, is a binding admission program that allows students to express their strong preference for a particular college by committing to attend if accepted. It is a binding agreement. Unlike Early Decision I, which normally has a November deadline, Early Decision 2 typically has a January deadline - some deadlines are even in early February! This gives students another chance to secure one of their first-choice colleges.

 Why Consider Early Decision 2?

There are several reasons a student may want to consider applying through Early Decision 2:

• Captures the attention of Admissions: Applying through Early Decision 2 demonstrates a high level of interest in an institution. Colleges often favor students who are genuinely enthusiastic about attending their school. 
• Improved Odds: Although the largest advantage comes with an Early Decision I application, admissions rates for Early Decision 2 applicants are still often higher than regular decision applicants. This is because the colleges know the student will attend if offered a place.
• Improved Academics: some students significantly improve their academic profile over a semester and after the earlier rounds. Early Decision 2 can be a great option for students who feel they are a better match for one of their first-choice institutions later in the application cycle.
• Better Informed Decisions: Because of the later deadlines, Early Decision 2 provides students time to continue researching and learning more about a college. Many students don’t realize how much they love a college until they have completed all their research.
• EarlierTimeline: Typically, students who apply Early Decision 2 tend to receive their admission decisions earlier than those who apply through Regular Decision. Regular Decision applicants often receive their admission decisions in late March or early April, but Early Decision 2 applicants usually receive their decisions in February. This can be a great psychological boost if they are accepted earlier.

‍So, how do students and counselors know which colleges offer Early Decision 2?

If a student or counselor is using MaiaLearning or GuidedPath, they can easily use the University Search feature to quickly get the list of colleges and universities offering Early Decision 2. Search functions like these make their college research efficient and helpful. 

If a student does not have access to MaiaLearning or GuidedPath, they normally have to look on college websites, look at the application plan options available to them in their colleges on the Common App, or ask their counselor. However, to help students out, here is a handy list:

List of Colleges that offer Early Decision 2.*

• American University
• Babson College
• Bates Colleges
• Bennington College
• Bentley University
• Boston College
• Boston University
• Bowdoin College
• Brandeis University
• Bryant University
• Bryn Mawr College
• Bucknell University
• Carleton College
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Catholic University of America
• Claremont McKenna College
• Clark University
• Colby College
• Colgate University
• College of the Atlantic
• College of the Holy Cross
• College of William and Mary
• College of Wooster
• Colorado College
• Connecticut College
• Davidson College
• Denison College
• Dickinson College
• DePauw University
• Drew University
• Emerson College
• Emory University
• Fairfield University
• Franklin & Marshall College
• Furman University
• George Washington University
• Gettysburg  College
• Grinnell College
• Grove City College
• Hamilton College
• Hampshire College
• Harvey MuddCollege
• Haverford College
• High Point University
• Hobart and William Smith Colleges
• Jewish Theological Seminary
• Johns Hopkins University
• Kenyon College
• Lafayette College
• Lake Forest College
• Lehigh University
• Loyola Marymount University
• Macalester College
• Marist College
• Middlebury College
• Mount Holyoke College
• Muhlenberg College
• New York  University
• Northeastern University
• Oberlin College
• Occidental College
• Pitzer College
• Pomona College
• Providence College
• Reed College
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rhodes College
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Rollins College
• Santa Clara University
• Saint Joseph’s University
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Scripps College
• Sewanee: The University of the South
• Skidmore College
• Smith College
• Southern Methodist University
• Springfield College
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stonehill College
• St. Olaf College
• Swarthmore College
• Syracuse University
• Texas Christian University
• Trinity College
• Trinity University
• Tufts University
• Tulane University
• Union College
• University of Chicago
• University of Denver
• University of Miami
• University of North Carolina Asheville
• University of Richmond
• University of Rochester
• Ursinus College
• Vanderbilt University
• Vassar College
• Villanova University
• Wake Forest University
• Washington and Lee University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Wellesley College
• Wesleyan University
• Wheaton College
• Whitman College
• Worcester  Polytechnic Institute

Can a student switch from Regular Decision to Early Decision 2?

Colleges offering Early Decision 2 normally allow students to convert a regular decision application to an early decision. The student should check the college's website or contact the admissions office to understand the specific process and deadlines for switching. If they go ahead and make the switch,  they will have to complete the Early Decision agreement form.

Conclusion

In summary, those who missed the Early Decision 1 deadlines, or were not accepted in that early round, need not despair. Early Decision 2 offers students the ability to show their commitment to attend another one of their clear top-choice colleges. However, it's crucial they carefully think about the binding nature of Early Decision, and they should carefully consider their financial aid options before making any Early Decision applications. But, if students make an informed choice and decide to apply Early Decision 2, it could be a great opportunity.

^{*College admission policies change over time, so students should check the accuracy of this list.}