What is the best early decision strategy for applying to Washington University in St. Louis?

If Washington University in St. Louis is clearly your first choice and the cost is workable for your family, applying Early Decision can be a smart strategy.

The biggest reason to use ED at WashU is that it signals strong commitment at a school that pays attention to demonstrated interest. That does not mean ED turns an uncompetitive application into a likely admit, but it can meaningfully help a strong applicant because the university knows you will enroll if admitted.

ED makes the most sense when three things are true: WashU is your genuine top choice, you are comfortable with the binding commitment, and you have reviewed the net price calculator and are comfortable with the likely cost. Since ED is binding, it is not the best option if you need to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools. In that case, Regular Decision or a nonbinding early option elsewhere may be more practical.

ED II can still be a good option if WashU becomes your top choice later or if your application will be noticeably stronger by January. For example, ED II may make sense if first semester senior grades, a higher test score, or improved essays will strengthen your file.