To Apply Early Decision, To Not Apply Early Decision? That is the Question.

Admit It! As you wade knee deep in applications, supplemental forms, requests for teacher recommendations and crumpled up remnants of essays you dare not submit, applying early decision sounds like the smartest idea you ever had.  Who invented the early decision process anyway?  That person should win a medal right?  Come on, the equation is almost like a MasterCard commercial.

Submitting only one application fee: $60.

Opportunity costs of getting back the time you won’t have to spend on other applications: $500.

Possibly knowing in December where you’re going to college: Priceless

Sadly, making the decision to apply early decision is not so formulaic.  It’s binding; you have to attend if admitted.  That’s a pretty difficult decision to make (heck sometimes picking out what you’re going to wear is a difficult decision to make).  So when should you apply early, when should you hold off and apply regular decision and what’s the difference in the way your application is reviewed?  Read on.

When should you apply early decision?

Apply early decision if and only if you all of the following statements apply to you:

1)      I can complete and submit all application materials by November 1.

2)      I understand that my first-semester grades from senior year cannot be considered during early decision.

3)      My family understands that applying early decision means we will forego the opportunity to compare financial aid and scholarship packages from multiple schools.

4)      I bleed green and gold and totally want to be this guy next year at football games.  Heck, I’ll buy the paint.

When you should hold off and apply regular decision

If any of the following statements apply to you, do not apply early decision:

1)      I will not have taken a standardized test by November 1.

2)      I think that my first-semester senior grades will help my application and I want the committee to view them.

3)      My family needs to compare financial aid and scholarship packages from multiple institutions before selecting a school.

4)      I’m not sure if green and gold are my colors just yet.

How does the Committee review early decision applications?

The physical process of applying early decision is identical to applying regular decision save the deadline and submission of first-semester grades.  We require the same application components, we review files in the exact same manner.  The difference is in how we consider the interest of those who apply early decision and the size of the applicant pool.

For those who do apply early decision, we do take their demonstrated commitment to and enthusiasm for W&M into consideration.  It’s good for a school to have some members of its incoming class who live and breathe that institution.  They help to energize their classmates and engender love for their future alma mater.  However, at the end of the day, someone’s undying love for the Tribe will not make them an admit if their application is not competitive.

The biggest competitive advantage to applying early decision is in the pool size.  Last year, W&M received just under 13,000 applications for freshman admission.  Just under 12,000 of those came during regular decision.  Approximately 1,100 students apply for early decision.  It is far easier to stand out in the pool of 1,100 than the pool of 12,000.  Any achievement you’ve earned (be it academic or extracurricular) is seen far less frequently in early decision than in regular decision.  Cliché essay topics appear slightly less generic in early decision because we’ve read fewer applications (and ergo fewer generic essays).  Your talents, accomplishments and intellect can shine more brightly among fewer competitors.

We Admit It! Our admission rate is higher during early decision than it is during regular decision, primarily for the reasons discussed in the two previous paragraphs.  That being said, early decision should not be used solely as a competitive advantage.  It is designed for students and schools who are a superb match for each other to solidify that connection early on (haha…early on…get it…bad admission humor).  While we realize we have not provided you the answer to the title question posed, hopefully we’ve provided you the basis on which to answer that question for yourself.

Wendy Livingston ’03, M.Ed. ‘09
Senior Assistant Dean of Admission

Categories: Admission, Faculty & Staff Blogs
6 Comments
  1. Emily
  2. Admit It!
  3. Ana
  4. Admit It!
  5. Sierra
  6. Admit It!

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