How Peer Advising Helped Me Choose the Right Early Decision School
I remember staring at a spreadsheet with ten colleges on it—each with different programs, deadlines, and vibes—and thinking, How am I supposed to know which one to choose for Early Decision? My school counselor was helpful with logistics, but the person who actually helped me decide was a peer advisor from Pathways.
She wasn’t just a name on a website. She had applied to the same schools I was considering. She had wrestled with the same trade-offs. She had lived through the same pressure of making the “right call.” Talking to her felt like a flashlight in a very confusing tunnel.
Why Early Decision Felt Like a Gamble
I knew Early Decision (ED) could increase my chances. The acceptance rates are almost always higher for ED applicants. But locking yourself into a binding decision before you even see other offers? That’s nerve-wracking.
I wasn’t choosing between clear winners and losers. I had to pick between amazing options: a top liberal arts college with an intimate campus vibe, a research-driven Ivy League university, and a rising tech-focused school with a full scholarship possibility. I had good grades, a 1550 SAT, strong extracurriculars, and a couple of statewide awards. But I didn’t have clarity.
My Peer Advisor Had Been There—Literally
The peer advisor I booked through Pathways had applied ED to one of the schools on my list and had gotten in. She was a sophomore now, thriving in the program I was interested in. But she wasn’t just pitching her school. She walked me through her decision matrix—how she compared departments, faculty accessibility, financial aid, campus culture, and career placement data. She told me what she got wrong in her own thinking and what she would’ve done differently.
That hour-long consultation was more valuable than weeks of Googling.
The Personal Details That Mattered
She pointed out things I hadn’t found on Reddit or College Confidential:
- Which departments were stretched thin and which were getting new funding.
- What “fit” meant beyond buzzwords—like how introverted students felt at different campuses.
- How her ED acceptance came with specific scholarship stipulations I hadn’t considered.
She even shared her actual “Why [School]?” essay, which helped me tighten the focus on mine.
What Really Helped Me Decide
The breakthrough moment came when she asked:
“If none of your friends or family ever knew what school you went to, which one would you still be excited to attend?”
That’s when I realized I was leaning toward the flashier names for the wrong reasons. The school I ultimately chose—my ED school—had the tight-knit community, academic freedom, and project-based learning I really wanted. I just hadn’t given myself permission to see it as my first choice until that conversation.
SEO Keywords We Hit Along the Way
If you’re reading this, maybe you’re searching:
- “How to choose an Early Decision college”
- “Does Early Decision increase your chances”
- “Is Early Decision binding”
- “How to get college advising from students”
- “Should I apply Early Decision or Regular Decision”
I typed those same phrases. And while articles helped, nothing compared to hearing it from someone just a couple of years ahead of me.
The Confidence to Commit
I hit submit on my Early Decision application two weeks later. I felt nervous, but also oddly calm. I knew I wasn’t choosing based on prestige or pressure. I was choosing based on insight. I got in. And today, I help others through the same process—as a peer advisor myself.
Final Thought
Choosing an Early Decision school is one of the most consequential steps in the college application process. Having a peer who’s done it recently, who knows the schools intimately, and who can speak with both honesty and empathy—that’s a game changer.
If you're standing at that fork in the road, wondering which path to lock in early, talk to someone who’s walked both. It just might change everything.