Some of my friends are applying to their first college choice early in order to get an early decision on admission. Should I do this, too? Please tell me some of the advantages and disadvantages. - College Bound. Answer: Early decision has been around for more than 40years. Advantages for choosing this type of college admission might include academic scholarship priority, early course registration and housing priority to those who apply and are admitted early. Of course, you also receive the major advantage of knowing whether or not you have been accepted, rejected or placed on a list for further consideration. The major disadvantage to this type of admission is that you may have to agree to attend this school and not apply to any other colleges. You need to realize that most colleges do not offer early decision admission. This program is mainly used by private, selective colleges. You should use this application if you have absolutely fallen in love with a college and it is your first choice. Then you will have the advantage of getting rid of all the months of anxiety because you will know early whether or not you have been admitted to this school. Some selective colleges are now admitting close to 50 percent of their incoming freshmen through early decision. At some of these schools, less-stringent admission standards are offered for early admission. You need to realize that this is definitely not true, however, for all schools. It is important to call the school and ask if this is the best way for a student with your qualifications to be admitted.