Early Decision

If you have selected Dartmouth as a clear first choice, you may request an Early Decision on your application.

• Early Decision Application Deadline: November 1

The Early Decision Agreement

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 Agreement for you to be an Early Decision candidate at two institutions at the same time.

Early Decision Notification

Early Decision applicants are notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision by mid-December. Candidates will receive one of three decisions:

• Acceptance: the candidate has been admitted and is expected to enroll at Dartmouth.
• Denial: the candidate has been denied admission and his/her candidacy has concluded. The student is no longer bound by the Early Decision Agreement and may not re-apply to Dartmouth until the next application cycle.
• Deferral: the candidate has not been admitted or denied. Rather, the Admissions Committee will reconsider the application during the Regular Decision review process. Deferred candidates will be notified of their decision in early April; they are no longer bound by Dartmouth's Early Decision agreement and are advised to continue with their applications at other colleges and universities.

Early Decision and Financial Aid

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. Dartmouth’s application review process is need-blind, and the College meets 100% of each admitted students’ demonstrated financial need. For more information, click here.

Application Materials From Senior Year

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, however. In such cases, school records and testing through the junior year are used.

Early Decision and SAT II Subject Tests

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.