Early Decision at Dickinson College
At some point in their college search, many competitive high school students consider applying to a
college under the Early Decision (ED) Plan. ED is a binding commitment where students, once admitted, are obligated to withdraw all other applications and to enroll at a specific college.
In many ways, Early Decision is the most straightforward and honest of all college admissions programs. It eliminates the "game playing" that has increasingly characterized the competitive admissions process. If you see yourself as a “fit” with what Dickinson is all about—and we agree—then you will be admitted. It's that simple.
Why do we have this view?
- We want students who have determined that our unique brand of the liberal arts—academically rigorous, useful and unapologetically engaged with the real world—is what they want. We want students who are ready and willing to commit to Dickinson and to productive lives during their college years and beyond.
- Finding the right match between student and college is the most important part of any admissions process. Because there are fewer applicants during ED, the admissions staff has more time to really get to know you and to make certain that both you and Dickinson are right for each other.
- During ED, your candidacy is assessed by answering the questions "Does this student have what it takes to succeed at Dickinson, and do this student's interests match those of the college?" By contrast, during Regular Decision (RD), candidacies are accessed more comparatively—with students competing more against one another for the places remaining in the class.
- Importantly, students applying ED are more likely to have their financial-aid needs met than later in the process, during RD, when aid funds could be exhausted
Some common misperceptions about applying ED
- It is true that some students feel pressured into applying early to get a coveted space in the class when they are not really ready to make a commitment. But this is no argument against the ED approach. Students should be honest with themselves: If they are not yet ready to commit, then they should NOT apply ED here or anywhere else. Moreover, it is critical that they do their homework and know WHY they are applying to a particular school, especially under ED. For more helpful hints on this, see our College Tips Web Site.
- There is a widespread misperception that students who apply ED can “slack off” in their academic work during the second semester of their senior year. Students are not advised to try this since selective colleges can and do withdraw admission offered to a student if his or her academic performance declines significantly. This is true under RD as well. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of high school.
- Another misconception is that students who apply ED may lessen their chances of receiving academic scholarships on the theory that since they are already committed to a college, it will have less incentive to award them scholarships as an inducement to enroll. However, this is not true at Dickinson: a student who would have received an academic scholarship in the RD process will be awarded one in ED.
A Final Thought
We anticipate a record number of Early Decision applications this coming year and hope that students who apply do their homework in advance and know exactly why Dickinson is the right college for them.
If you think you are right for Dickinson and would like to consider applying ED, please go to our contact information page to get the e-mail address of the Dickinson admissions counselor in your region. He or she will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of applying ED with you. Reading about six students who applied ED also may provide some insight.
Early Decision may not be right for everyone. So find out if it is right for you. If you decide that it is, here is further information about how to apply to Dickinson.
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