Choosing the right college can be a stressful task, as many students know. Between location, tuition, curriculum and more, soon-to-be college students have many aspects to weigh. After much comparison, most do finally pick a first choice school.

But how will the school know it's a student's first choice? Early decision.

That's why Carnegie Mellon University, for one, offers an early decision option.

"The main purpose is for someone who realizes that Carnegie Mellon is their first choice -- that this is where they want to be," said Amanda Lowman, assistant director of admissions at CMU.

However, many schools, including Penn State, do not have an option like this for applicants to consider.

"Penn State does not offer an early decision option," said Penn State spokesman Steve MacCarthy.

There has been great controversy recently in many Ivy League schools over whether or not to eliminate the early decision option. The debate began in December when Yale University announced that it would get rid of the option.

Many high school guidance counselors praised Yale for abolishing that choice. Other schools felt pressure to also eliminate it, but few have, including Columbia University and Vanderbilt University. Despite the positive outpouring Yale received from students, parents and high school administrators, those schools announced they have no plans to abandon the early decision process.

Many students are misled into thinking that by taking advantage of the early decision option at a school, they will have a better chance of being accepted there. While this is the case at some schools, it is not true for many.

"I think a lot of people think it could give them an edge into getting into the school," Lowman said. "In reality, it is not going to. We downplay early decision. We want them to choose it because they want to."

Early decision, not to be confused with early action or notification, is a binding agreement between a student and a university in most cases. Early action or notification is simply when an applicant is notified before the majority of the applicant pool.

"The early decision option is binding (at Susquehanna University)," said Chris Markle, director of admissions at Susquehanna. "If they're accepted and their financial aid works out, then we expect them to come here."

Markle said he believes early decision is a beneficial option for students who know that Susquehanna is their first choice. Early decision applicants receive preference for housing, are first in line for financial aid, and are notified of their acceptance by Jan. 15.

"I think the biggest benefit is peace of mind," he said. "I'm a 1984 Susquehanna graduate, and I came as an early decision student."

Because applicants are notified of their admittance early, they can sit back and relax instead of stressing for another four to five months, Markle said.