If you have selected Dartmouth as a clear first choice, you may request an Early Decision on your application. Applying as an Early Decision candidate involves a commitment to matriculate at Dartmouth if admitted; candidates who are admitted under the Early Decision Plan may not initiate new applications and must withdraw any other applications. It is a violation of the plan for you to be an Early Decision candidate at two institutions at the same time. Early Decision applications are judged according to the same criteria as those in regular decision. Often senior year grades and scores do not reach us in time to affect the Early Decision process. In such cases, school records and testing through the junior year are used.
You may apply for Early Decision even if you have not yet taken two SAT II: Subject Tests. You must, however, take two SAT II's no later than January of your senior year. These test results will be used in further evaluating the applications of deferred Early Decision applicants and for academic placement of accepted candidates.
November 1 is the application deadline for Early Decision candidates. By mid-December, you will be notified that they have been accepted, denied, or that a final decision has been deferred until mid-April. If your application has been deferred or denied, you are no longer bound by Dartmouth's Early Decision agreement and are advised to continue with your applications at other colleges and universities.
Early Decision candidates who will require financial assistance should file financial aid forms as soon as possible so that both admission and financial aid decisions can be made promptly and communicated simultaneously. All accepted Early Decision candidates who demonstrate financial need are assured of receiving assistance in the full amount of that need from the College.
