Early Decision in Law School Admissions

In law school admissions, early decision (ED) applications occupy a curious place. On the surface, they’re simple: you apply early, promise to attend if admitted, and hope that commitment gives you an edge. But beneath that simplicity lies a trade-off that has tripped up more than a few applicants.

Early decision is a bet. For some, it pays off in admission to a dream school they might have missed otherwise. For others, it means locking themselves into a binding commitment with little to no scholarship leverage. Understanding where ED helps, and where it hurts, can save you from a costly misstep.

What Early Decision Actually Is

An early decision application is binding. If you’re admitted, you must enroll, withdraw all other applications, and stop applying elsewhere. Deadlines are early, usually in November, though schools vary. Columbia’s deadline falls November 15, Penn offers two ED rounds (November 15 and January 15), and Georgetown stretches into March. If you’re admitted, you’ll typically hear by December, months before regular applicants.

When you apply ED, there are three possible outcomes:

1. You’re admitted and bound to attend.
2. You’re denied outright.
3. You’re deferred into the regular decision pool, where you’ll be reconsidered with everyone else.

Why Law Schools Love ED

The appeal for schools is obvious:

• Yield Protection: Yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) is a key metric. ED guarantees a 100% yield on those students.
• Ranking Leverage: Every law school cares about its medians. ED lets schools lock in candidates who are close to (but not quite at) their numbers, shoring up class stats early.
• Revenue Stability: ED students can’t compare offers or negotiate scholarships, making them more likely to pay full price. From an institutional perspective, that predictability is gold.

Some schools even dangle carrots to sweeten the deal. Northwestern and Berkeley, for instance, automatically attach scholarships to ED offers. That’s rare, but it shows how much schools value early commitment.

The Advantages for Applicants

1. A Slight Boost in Odds
The biggest draw of ED is the perception of higher chances. Admissions data suggest that applicants just under a school’s LSAT or GPA median often fare better in ED than in the regular pool. For “splitters” (high GPA/low LSAT or vice versa), this can be especially valuable.

2. Early Certainty
ED applicants typically hear back by December. That’s months earlier than the March–April timeline for regular applicants. For those who value clarity, or who are juggling visas, housing, or family logistics, that certainty is worth something.

3. Demonstrated Commitment
Law schools are wary of applicants who treat them as safeties. ED proves you’re serious. Even if it’s not an automatic admit, it sends a clear signal that may help tip a borderline case.

The Downsides

1. No Scholarship Leverage
The most obvious drawback: no bargaining. Regular decision applicants often use competing offers to negotiate more aid. ED locks you in, sometimes at sticker price. For many students, that can mean a six-figure difference over three years.

2. Locked in Too Soon
If you’re still planning to retake the LSAT or refine your application, applying ED forces you to commit early. You may end up locked into a school at a score below your potential.

3. Uneven Advantages Across Schools
Not every school gives ED applicants a meaningful bump. At some, the difference is negligible. Applicants often overestimate the ED boost without checking how each school actually treats its ED pool.

4. The Binding Nature
It sounds obvious, but it’s worth repeating: ED is binding. Schools talk to each other. Breaking an ED contract can mean losing your seat and starting your legal career with a bad reputation.

Who Should Apply ED?

• Applicants with one clear dream school they would attend regardless of cost.
• Splitters hovering just below a school’s medians.
• Applicants with strong profiles who want to avoid the uncertainty of the regular cycle.

Who Should Think Twice?

• Applicants hoping to maximize scholarships.
• Students still improving their LSAT score.
• Anyone who isn’t absolutely sure about their top choice.

A Case Study in Strategy

Imagine two applicants:

• Applicant A has a 3.9 GPA and a 166 LSAT. The median LSAT at their dream school is 169. If they apply regular, they risk being waitlisted. If they apply ED, they may get the nudge they need to slip in.
• Applicant B has a 170 LSAT and a 3.8 GPA. Their profile already matches or exceeds medians at multiple schools. Applying ED might secure admission, but it would likely cost them thousands in lost aid offers from peer schools.

In this case, Applicant A has more to gain from ED. Applicant B has more to lose.

Final Thought

Early decision is neither a golden ticket nor a trap, it’s a tool. For some, it’s the difference between a waitlist and an admit. For others, it’s a financial gamble that doesn’t pay off. The key is knowing which side of that line you fall on.

At LexPrep, we help applicants think strategically about these choices, weighing the numbers, the timing, and the trade-offs. Join the waitlist at www.lexprep.ai to be first in line when we launch. Because in law school admissions, timing your move can matter just as much as making it.