Penn, Brown University, Duke University and Dartmouth College reported increases in early decision applications to the Class of 2014. Yale University, which has a non-binding early action program, experienced a 5-percent decrease in applications. Stanford University, offering a single-choice early action option, saw a 4-percent increase in applications.
Duke had the largest increase in early decision applications in its history — a 33% rise over last fall. Brown reported a 21-percent increase. Penn’s 6-percent increase was greater than Dartmouth’s 3 percent increase.
The trend may be attributable to the widespread belief that students applying early (especially early decision) have a significantly greater chance of being admitted. According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, some schools, such as Penn, “clearly communicates its support of early decision, especially as it relates to [children of] alums.”
Early decision also impacts yield (percentage of admitted students who enroll), in a manner that boosts a school’s ranking, because those who apply early decision make a commitment to enroll, when accepted through the ED program.
From a financial perspective, early decision is thought to benefit those who can afford the high cost of tuition, since those admitted ED are generally less able to compare and negotiate student aid packages.
Harvard and Princeton dropped their early admission programs in 2006.
