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
Comments are closed on posts older than one year, but we still want to hear from you. If you have a comment or question for us, please email admission@wm.edu.
I read while I was filling out the Common App for early decision (which I plan on doing) that if you get accepted ED and it turns out the school cannot offer you the financial aid necessary for you to be able to go to that school, you can withdraw your application. That’s true, right?
Emily, glad you’re considering ED. Our policy regarding early decision is that if your family’s financial situation changes between the application deadline and the date you receive the decision (meaning maybe a parent loses a job or something) then you can withdraw your application. If you apply ED and when you and your parents sign the ED agreement, youa re stating that you have researched the cost of attendance as well as your financial aid options (meaning you’ve researched what kind of aid you might be eligible for). Additionally, your financial aid package will not be available until April (we cannot even process it until after January when the new FAFSA is released). All we can offer those who apply ED is an estimate. While we would never compel a student to come to W&M, we encourage you to apply ED only if your family has done its research on the cost and aid options.
Do you consider first quarter grades in an early decision application?
Ana, depends on when they’re available. If you receive your first quarter grades in October or early November you can certainly submit them with your application (or shortly thereafter if they’re released in early November). Assuming they arrive in time to be considered (early to mid-November) we can certainly take them into account and welcome the additional info
What would be the latest to take the ACT/SAT for ED? I am taking the ACT in September, but they also have an october one. Is that one too late for the scores to make it for early decision?
Generally, the September ACT and October ACT are the last test dates that can be considered for ED. We cannot guarantee that the Oct. SAT scores will get here but they generally do. The ACT is in late October and those scores do not arrive in time to be considered during ED.