Regular Decision to Early Decision Forum

[swimbikerun15]

I know if you apply early decision and before a decision is rendered, if you want to cancel, you can 'downgrade' to regular decision and remove the binding requirement. Is it possible to apply to a school regular decision and before a decision is rendered, 'upgrade' to an early decision applicant?

[UVA2B]

Yes, just notify the school where you’d like to switch to ED about it, and they will probably send you something you must sign and return acknowledging the binding contract you’re entering in with the school.

[swimbikerun15]

Yes, just notify the school where you’d like to switch to ED about it, and they will probably send you something you must sign and return acknowledging the binding contract you’re entering in with the school.

Awesome, thanks so much!

[cavalier1138]

While I'm pretty sure the school will have no problem "upgrading" you, don't do it. Just don't.

[swimbikerun15]

While I'm pretty sure the school will have no problem "upgrading" you, don't do it. Just don't.

Why do you say that?

[UVA2B]

While I'm pretty sure the school will have no problem "upgrading" you, don't do it. Just don't.

Why do you say that?

ED=paying full price outside of a few schools that attach specific scholarships to their ED program (e.g. Northwestern, GWU, BU)

It's rare giving up negotiating leverage is a defensible choice if you're not loaded with cash to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for law school. There are times it makes sense, but those are the exception that proves the rule.

[QContinuum]

While I'm pretty sure the school will have no problem "upgrading" you, don't do it. Just don't.

Why do you say that?

ED=paying full price outside of a few schools that attach specific scholarships to their ED program (e.g. Northwestern, GWU, BU)

It's rare giving up negotiating leverage is a defensible choice if you're not loaded with cash to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for law school. There are times it makes sense, but those are the exception that proves the rule.

In addition, with a few exceptions, ED also doesn't improve an applicant's odds of admission. PowerScore did a good study a few years back: https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/applyi ... -not-to-ed

So in many cases, EDing is all pain and no gain.