Early decision you apply to one school, and admission is binding(有法律约束力的) seems like a great choice for nervous applicants. Schools 1 a higher percentage of early-decision applicants, which arguably means that you have a better chance of being enrolled. And if you do, you're done with the whole painful process by December. But most students and parents don't realize that schools have hidden 2 for offering early decision.
Early decision, since it's binding, allows schools to fill their classes with qualified students; it allows 3 committees to select the students that are in particular demand for their college and know those students will come. It also gives schools a higher yield rate (优秀学生率), which is often used as one of the ways to 4 college selectivity and popularity.
The problem is that this process effectively 5 the window of time students have to make one of the most important decisions of their lives up to that point. Under 6 admissions, seniors have to choose which school to attend until May 1; early decision effectively steals six months from them, months that could be used to visit more schools, do more research, speak to current students and alumni (校友) and make a more 7 decision.
For any given student in America, whatever their levels are, there are a number of schools that are a great 8. When students become too fixed on a particular school early in the admissions process, that fixation can lead to 9 severe disappointment if they don't get in or, if they do, it is likely that they are now bound to go to a school that, given time for further 10, may not actually be right for them.
Early decision offers a genuine admissions edge. That advantage goes largely to students who already have 11 advantages. The students who use early decision tend to be those who have received higher-quality college guidance, usually a result of coming from a more advantaged background. 12, there's an argument against early decision, as students from lower-income families are far less likely to have the admissions know-how (招生诀窍) to 13 figure out the often confusing early deadlines.
Students who have done their research and are confident that there's one school they would be thrilled to get into should, under the current system, probably 14 under early decision. For students who haven't yet done enough research, or who are still constantly changing their minds on favorite schools, the early-decision system needlessly and prematurely 15 the field of possibility just at a time when students should be opening themselves to a whole range of thrilling options.
