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Behind the Curtain of Selective College Admissions – Webinar

If you have any students that are thinking about including highly selective colleges on their list, it’s important to understand just what they’re looking for, who is considered a “competitive” applicant, and how you can assess if these schools are right for you.

Estrela Consulting recently hosted a webinar with an expert panel of admission professionals who shared their expertise during a discussion of the topics above and more. Guests included: Kevin Ramos-Glew: Director of Enrollment Planning and Special Assistant to the Vice President at Dartmouth College, Rick Barth: Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Clemson University, and Sam Prouty: Executive Director of Admissions at Middlebury College

See the archived webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFs5i6Ya7gk

Estrela also has some great related blog posts you can check out here:

Understanding Selective College Admissions: Data Insights and Reality

Understanding Selective College Admissions: Institutional Priorities

Understanding Selective College Admissions: The Secret Sauce – Tips and Strategies

Fashion Internship Opportunity (Virtual) for your students

Do you have any social media savvy Gen-Zer students interested in all things fashion, pop culture, and trends? Are they interested in having their ideas and opinions translated into clothing designs that may be sold at retailers across the country? If yes, then Avalon Apparel is looking for their help on their national “Fashion Board”.

Estimated time commitment is roughly 5-10 hours per month (all online). Internship is unpaid, but there are a lot of fun perks including monthly raffles, surprise gifting, and the opportunity to network across the functions of design, sales/merchandising, and production to teach them more about careers within the fashion industry ecosystem.

Have any questions? They can be directed to Kelsey, Avalon Market Specialist, at kelsey@avalonapparel.com

New FAFSA Delay Presents an Opportunity for Some Families to Reduce College Costs

Despite previous assurances that the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA, would be released on Oct. 1, the U.S. Department of Education announced in August that most families will not be able to submit their FAFSA until December.

While many families may be wringing their hands about the announcement, the delay will actually give some families an opportunity to reduce their college costs by thousands of dollars a year.

But to make that happen, they need to start now doing their homework by studying the new FAFSA rules and how they can benefit from them. 

Here are some examples of actions that take time but can be completed prior to filing the FAFSA:

·        Changing the ownership of 529 college savings accounts. Accounts that are in the student’s name are assessed by the FAFSA at a much higher rate than those owned by parents.

·        Repositioning a child’s assets, including checking accounts, savings accounts and brokerage accounts.

·        Accelerating retirement contributions by parents, because retirement savings are not reported on the FAFSA.

These are just a few examples of how families, especially middle-income families, can reduce college costs.


Families shouldn’t delay. They should be doing their homework now in order to be ready when the FAFSA is released. College families also have time to set the stage for a much more effective appeal by the time their financial aid letter reaches them.

An effective appeal or negotiation with your favorite choice college can also mean thousands of dollars in additional financial aid.

Families should also figure out what they are likely to pay for their student’s top-choice colleges, using the net-price calculators that are required on every college website.

The calculator may not be 100 percent accurate about the student’s eligibility for merit and need-based aid, but it will still give you an idea of your costs. If it’s more than you can afford, there will still be time to consider other options that might be not only more affordable but also a better fit for your student.

From personalized academic and financial planning to free workshops and test score improvement, My College Planning Team consists of an expert team dedicated to making higher education accessible and affordable, particularly for middle-income families. Free, no-obligation workshops are presented in person and virtually.

As the new school year is ramping up, it’s important to get the word out to as many families as possible.

Carrie Short is Client Services Manager with My College Planning Team and director of Financial Aid at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio.  She is the former president of the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. For information, visit the My College Planning Team website.

The 20 Best Skills Your Students Should Include on Their Resumes

As your students embark on that next chapter in their lives they will need to create a resume and keep it updated during their college years. Here are 20 skills they should include:

1. Problem-Solving Skills

No matter what the job is, eventually, something will go wrong, and employers want to know that you’re capable of coming up with a quick and effective solution. In fact, there are jobs that are essentially nothing but solving problems for the company, the clients, or both.

2. Critical Thinking Skills

Being able to think rationally and thoughtfully is the basis of critical thinking. Employers want workers who can think through a problem or a project and determine the best steps needed. Critical thinkers come up with new and better ways to work, making it an invaluable skill to put on a resume.

3. Flexibility

Many organizations and industries covet employees who are dynamic and adaptable to every situation, or who have a natural ability to use a variety of methods and approaches in different circumstances to get the best end result.

4. Communication Skills

Whether it’s written or verbal, being able to communicate with your boss, coworkers, and clients/customers in all situations is very valuable. The better you are at it, the better results you will generate.

5. Teamwork Skills

Most jobs will require you to work with other people at some point, and employers want to know that you can succeed in a team environment. Some jobs will prize this skill more than others.

6. Organization Skills

This is not just about having a neat desk but organizing tasks and projects for your coworkers, management, and, at the very least, yourself! If you want to show off your organizational skills, having a tightly structured resume certainly helps.

7. Creativity

Thinking outside of the box and coming up with creative solutions can be a real asset in any role. Perhaps you’re good at thinking about something in a way that hasn’t been done before. Creativity can be shown on your resume through a problem you solved or through a creative skill like writing or design.

8. Emotional Intelligence and People Skills

According to Psychology Today, “Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.” In the workplace, this means you’re rational and even-keeled and can handle ups and downs without losing control. While this is important for everybody, it’s a must-have skill to include on a resume for management.

9. Attention to Detail

On the job, you need to ensure you follow all instructions in order to complete your work. This can be especially important when you work with others. Paying attention to detail will be needed in any role you have. Consider times when you caught or fixed a potential mistake due to your attention to detail.

10. Responsibility

Part of being a good employee is taking responsibility for your duties and even owning up to mistakes. Most managers don’t want to have to check in on their employees to ensure every part of their job is getting done. Responsibility means doing what you need to do to complete your tasks.

11. Digital Skills

The list of professions that do not require you to use computers and certain types of software is very short. You could very likely break up “digital skills” into two or three specific technical proficiencies for your field. Most jobs require computer skills, including experience with video meeting software, project management programs, and other company-related software.

12. Design Skills

Aside from the obvious professions, like graphic design or web design, there are jobs in marketing, advertising, branding, engineering, and construction that require some type of design skills—even if it’s only for drawing up presentations.

13. Data Analysis Skills

Data is very much in vogue right now, and there are a lot of jobs out there where you will be called upon to analyze metrics and extrapolate a practical use from it, making analytical skills extremely valuable to put on your resume.

14. Negotiation Skills

There are many jobs that involve selling a product or service, purchasing stock or merchandise, brokering deals for production or transportation, establishing partnerships for advertising or investments, and so on.

15. Math Skills

Finance, business, engineering, construction, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and operations will require you to be competent with math in some capacity. If you’re in a profession that is more math-heavy, consider splitting it up into a few more specific skill areas.

16. Project Management Skills

Many jobs will require project management skills. The ability to manage your task flow and complete assignments on time is part of project management. Perhaps you have used project management software in the past or have completed a project early—these all show good project management.

17. Marketing Skills

Marketing involves selling and promoting products and services. Even if you’re not a marketer per se, many companies may desire this hard skill. Knowing the highlights and benefits of your company’s products and services and being able to speak or write about them can be valuable to many different jobs. If you have specific marketing or social media experience, even better.

18. Administrative Skills

Even if your job is not administrative in nature, it’s likely a part of your role. Administrative skills involve the things you do to manage your role: organizing, planning, scheduling, writing emails, managing files, etc. Employers want to know you’re able to take hold of the details.

19. Writing Skills

Many jobs involve writing. Whether it’s to clients or coworkers, having a basic writing ability is necessary and an absolute skill to put on your resume. Emails filled with typos and grammatical errors will not reflect well on you, and poor tone can send the wrong message. Demonstrate this skill through your cover letter and emails with the recruiter, and list any specific writing-heavy projects you’ve completed.

20. Foreign Language Skills

Being bilingual can be a great hard skill and set you apart from your competition. Even if a role or company doesn’t initially have a need for a bilingual employee, they may look favorably on your ability. It is common to need someone with fluency in another language to help customers or clients, so play up this skill on your resume.

These tips are from a post at Flexjobs.

7 Great Data Charts that Provide a Lot of Information to Compare Subsets of Colleges

Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy have provided some great charts for years related to Early Decision and Acceptance Rates, Domestic Undergraduate Need-Based and Merit Aid, and Financial Aid for International Noncitizens. This year they have added 4 new charts. Here is a rundown on all 7:

  • Early Decision and Regular Decision Acceptance Rates Class of 2027 
  • Sample Early Action and Regular Decision Acceptance Rates Class of 2027 (new!)
  • Domestic Undergraduate Need-Based and Merit Aid Class of 2027
  • In-State and Out-of-State Acceptance Rates Class of 2027 (new!)
  • Financial Aid for International Noncitizens Class of 2027
  • International Noncitizens Acceptance Rate and Yield Class of 2027 (new!)
  • Percentage of Students Submitting SAT and ACT Scores Class of 2027 (new!)

These charts are visual, interactive, and easy to use. They make it possible to instantly sort using any column’s metrics and to easily compare subsets of colleges. They are free and can be accessed at www.bigjeducationalconsulting.com/resources. 

What Level of Starting Pay are your Students Willing to Accept when they Graduate?

Flexjobs just released some interesting results from a study they conducted which answers that question.

  • Perspectives on Starting Pay: 23% of respondents said “$24,999 or less” is the lowest pay they would accept or have accepted for their first job, while 24% were split evenly between the $25,000 to $29,999 or $30,000 to $34,999 range. 
What’s the lowest pay range you would accept or have accepted for your first job?
Answer ChoicesResponses
$24,999 or less23%
$25,000 – $29,99912%
$30,000 – $34,99912%
$35,000 – $39,9998%
$40,000 – $44,9999%
$45,000 – $49,9997%
$50,000 – $59,99912%
$60,000 – $69,9996%
$70,000 – $79,9995%
$80,000 – $99,9994%
$100,000 or higher4%
  • Almost one-quarter (24%) of women said they would accept or have accepted a salary of $24,999 or less for their first job––slightly higher than the average and seven percent higher than men who said the same (17%).

  • Additionally, 14% of men said the lowest pay range they would accept or have accepted was $80,000 or more, compared to six percent of women. 
  • Entry-Level Salaries in 2024: Despite workers’ willingness to accept a lower pay range for their first job, only two percent of respondents believe “$24,999 or less” is a realistic entry-level starting salary in today’s job market.

  • Nearly half (49%) of workers agreed a realistic starting salary in 2024 should fall between $40,000 to $49,999 (26%) or $50,000 to $59,999 (23%).
What do you consider to be a realistic entry-level starting salary in 2024?
Answer ChoicesResponses
$24,999 or less2%
$25,000 – $29,9996%
$30,000 – $39,99915%
$40,000 – $49,99926%
$50,000 – $59,99923%
$60,000 – $69,99913%
$70,000 – $79,9997%
$80,000 – $89,9994%
$90,000 – $99,9991%
$100,000 – $120,0002%
$120,001 or higher1%
  • Between generations, 27% of baby boomers, 26% of Gen X, and 25% of millennials said $40,000 to $49,999 was an acceptable starting salary in 2024.

  • Men and women showed slight variances in what they believed to be a realistic entry-level salary in 2024:
    • $30,000 to $39,999: Women (16%), Men (14%)
    • $40,000 to $49,999: Women (27%), Men (23%)
    • $50,000 to $59,999: Women (23%), Men (22%)
    • $60,000 to $69,999: Women (12%), Men (14%)

Here is a link to the full report: 2024 Financial Pulse Report

A Flight Path for Studying Aviation: Free Webinar

Have any students interested in pursuing a career in Aviation? If so, Estrela Consulting is hosting a webinar on the subject. There will be a panel of experts that will delve into this career path and all that it entails. The webinar will be held live on August 20th at 7:00 PM Eastern and then archived for viewing at a later date. Here is a link to the registration page: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CGMBLh6tTmeC9GOsIVzrtg

How High School Students Can Leverage Social Media for Career Development

Social media is mostly considered a bad habit. Not quite as detrimental as smoking or alcohol, but also not carrots and jogging. 

It is true that regular social media usage can have detrimental effects. It is also true that these effects are seen more significantly in young populations.

That doesn’t mean that teenagers can’t benefit from their social media presence. By carefully cultivating an online persona, high school students can boost their odds of impressing the admissions department of a university or even finding their first job.

In this article, we take a look at how social media can be used for good.

Developing a Personal Brand

Organizations are more keen than ever on developing their brand. A set of beliefs that not only reflect their professional output but also a world view.

To ensure that their brand remains consistent, they look for job candidates that reflect their values.

Anyone with a social media account can do the same. Carefully cultivated, social media posts can reflect your students’ worldview and assure universities and potential employers that the applicant would be a good personality fit.

How do your students accomplish this? There are two important steps. The first is that they should actively post only in ways that reflect the value they were trying to communicate.

For example, if your students are fixed on a particular social cause, they may wish to make posts that educate the community and showcase their commitment to change. These types of posts will not necessarily earn them a job, but they will make your students more enticing to an employer or university that shares those values

The second step is to make sure that your students don’t post anything that contradicts or conflicts with the persona they were trying to create.

It helps when they are being honest about their values. Chances are that there are employers or universities that share whatever it is they believe in.

By carefully aligning their online presence with their beliefs and values, your students can attract compatible employers.

Social Media as a Professional Skill

It’s also helpful to keep in mind that social media is something every business tries to leverage for their branding and marketing purposes. Therefore, they will naturally be attracted to candidates who have a strong grasp of various social media platforms.

High school students can demonstrate a skill at connecting with a large audience regularly may be attractive to employers, who are trying to achieve the same results with their own social media platforms.

To this end, it will be helpful to have a specific and almost academic understanding of the various platforms. Facebook, X, and LinkedIn all have different requirements. Unique expectations that anyone on the platform will have for a post.

X posts, for example, are short and punchy. Facebook posts are usually a little bit longer. LinkedIn post posts are informational. Instagram posts are short and personal. Candidates who can demonstrate their keen understanding of multiple social media platforms will be attractive to future employers.

Social Media as a Secondary Skill

People who are good at utilizing social media may also have secondary skills that employers value. For example, graphic design. Video editing. Sound engineering. Writing. Even data processing.

A lot goes into a great social media post.

It’s always a good idea to take a look at what your students are good at and think about ways you could help them frame those skills to a potential employer.

Saying “I am very good at Twitter” might not get your students very far unless they are applying for a job as a social media account manager. However, saying they have extensive experience with graphic design and showcasing that ability— in the context of social media— distinguishes their application from other candidates.

Social Media for Networking

Finally, social media is becoming an increasingly prominent place to meet other like-minded professionals. LinkedIn is the most prominent platform for relationships. Jobseekers can use LinkedIn to establish themselves as experts in the area that they are interested in working in.

People interested in making professional connections on LinkedIn should regularly post thoughtful articles relating to their professional interests.

They should also engage in productive conversations and make a point of connecting with like-minded people. Even if these professional relationships do not result directly in a job offer they may help your students’ applications stand out when they begin applying for jobs.

Can you get into trouble with social media?

You definitely can. In fact, even if your students do not post controversial topics, it is a good idea for them to be highly selective with what they publish online.

Even a picture of your students out at a party with their friends can be construed as inappropriate by a conservative company. They probably won’t worry that your students are untrustworthy just because they have active social lives, but they may be concerned that the image contradicts the one that they are trying to put out.

Using social media to find employment can be rewarding and effective, but it also means being extremely conscientious of everything that gets posted online.

In other words, your students can’t do it halfheartedly. If they are going to use their social media presence to showcase their talents and make connections, they have to make sure that everything they post is consistent with these efforts.

U.S. Colleges With Binding Early Decision Plans

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES WITH BINDING EARLY DECISION ADMISSION PLANS

(cross referenced with those with Early Action plans)

[dates are in US format with month first, then day]

[last modified July 20, 2024]

CALIFORNIA

          Chapman University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Claremont McKenna College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-10)]

            Harvey Mudd College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

            Loyola Marymount University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-8)

and an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Occidental College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-10)]

            Pitzer College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

            Pomona College (11-8) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-8)]

            Santa Clara University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-7) and

                                                                        Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Scripps College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-8)]

            University of San Francisco (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and

an Early Action plan (11-1)]

COLORADO

          Colorado College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Regis University (10-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            University of Denver (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

CONNECTICUT

          Connecticut College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

          Fairfield University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Quinnipiac University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Sacred Heart University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

Trinity College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-17)]

            University of New Haven (12-1) [also supports an Early Action

plan (12-1) and an EA2 plan (2-15)]

            Wesleyan University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

            American University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Catholic University of America (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-1)

and an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            George Washington University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

Howard University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

FLORIDA

          Flagler College (11-1)

            Florida Southern College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Nova Southeastern University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action

                                                                                                plan (11-1)]

            Rollins College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

            Stetson University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

University of Miami (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-6) and an

 Early Action plan (11-1)]

            University of Tampa (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

GEORGIA

          Agnes Scott College (11-11) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-16) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

Emory University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

Morehouse College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-15)]

            Oxford College of Emory University (11-1) [also supports an

ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Spelman College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

ILLINOIS

            Augustana College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Illinois Institute of Technology (11-1) [also supports an Early Action

                                                                                                plan (11-15)]

            Knox College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1) and

an EA2 plan (12-1)]

Lake Forest College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15), an Early

Action plan (11-1) and an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Northwestern University (11-1)

            University of Chicago (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-6) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

INDIANA

            Butler University (11-1 for nursing applicants only) [also supports

                                                            an Early Action plan (11-1)]

DePauw University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (12-15), an Early

Action plan (11-1) and an EA2 plan (12-15)]

            Saint Mary’s College (11-15)

            Wabash College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

IOWA

          Coe College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-10)]

            Grinnell College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

KENTUCKY

            Centre College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an                                                                                              Early Action plan (11-15)]

LOUISIANA

          Tulane University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-16) and an                                                                                          Early Action plan (11-15)]

MAINE

          Bates College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-10)]

            Bowdoin College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-6)]

            Colby College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-2)]

            College of the Atlantic (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and

an Early Action plan (12-1)]

MARYLAND

            Johns Hopkins University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-2)]

            Loyola University Maryland (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)

                                                                        and an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            McDaniel College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

Saint John’s College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Saint Mary’s College of Maryland (11-1) [also supports an Early Action

                                                                                                plan (11-1)]

Salisbury University (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Washington College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

MASSACHUSETTS

          Amherst College (11-8)

            Assumption University (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)

                                                                                    and an EA2 plan (12-15)]

            Babson College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-2) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

Bentley University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

Boston College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-2)]

            Boston University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-4)]

            Brandeis University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-2)]

            Clark University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

            College of the Holy Cross (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Emerson College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-3) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Emmanuel College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)

                                                                        and an EA2 plan (12-15)]

Hampshire College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1) and an

                                                            Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Merrimack College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Mount Holyoke College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-3)]

            Northeastern University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Smith College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Springfield College (12-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Stonehill College (12-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-1), an Early

Action plan (11-1) and an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Tufts University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-4)]

            Wellesley College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Wheaton College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Williams College (11-15)

            Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan

                                    (1-5), an Early Action plan (11-1) and an EA2 plan (1-5)]

MICHIGAN

          Hillsdale College (11-1)

            Kalamazoo College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

MINNESOTA

          Carleton College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Macalester College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1) and an

                                                                        Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Saint Olaf College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

MISSOURI

            Saint Louis University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-16)

                                                                        and an Early Action plan (12-1)]

Washington University in Saint Louis (11-1) [also supports an

                                                                                                ED 2 plan (1-2)]

NEW HAMPSHIRE

          Dartmouth College (11-1)

            Saint Anselm College (12-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

NEW JERSEY

Drew University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Monmouth University (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Ramapo College of New Jersey (11-1) [also supports an Early Action

                                                                                                plan (12-15)]

            Stevens Institute of Technology (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)

and an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            The College of New Jersey (11-1)

NEW MEXICO

            Saint John’s College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

NEW YORK

          Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (11-1) [also supports an

                                                                                                Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Alfred University (12-1)

            Bard College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Barnard College (11-1)

            Clarkson University (12-1)

            Colgate University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Columbia University (11-1)

            Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (11-1) [School of

Engineering] or (12-1) [Schools of Art and Architecture]

            Cornell University (11-1)

            Fordham University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Hamilton College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-6)]

            Hobart and William Smith Colleges (11-15) [also supports an ED 2

plan (1-15) and an Early Action plan (11-15)]

Iona College (12-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-15 and an

EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Ithaca College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-15)]

            Jewish Theological Seminary of America, List College Joint Program with

              General Studies at Columbia (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)

and an Early Action plan (1-1)]

            Jewish Theological Seminary of America, List College Double Degree

                        Program with Barnard College (11-1)

            Long Island University Brooklyn (12-15) [also supports an Early

                                                                                                Action plan (11-15)]

            Long Island University Post (12-15) [also supports an Early

                                                                                                            Action plan (11-15)]

            Manhattan College (11-15)

            Marist College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-15) and an

                                                            Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Nazareth University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            New York University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Pace University, New York City (11-1) [also supports an Early Action

                                    plan (11-15) and an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-3)

            an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Rochester Institute of Technology (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)

and an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Saint John Fisher College (12-1)

            Saint Lawrence University (apply after 11-1 and by 2-1) [also supports                                                                                         an Early Action plan (12-2)]

Sarah Lawrence College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

Siena College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)

and an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Skidmore College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-8)]

            SUNY Maritime College (11-1)

            Syracuse University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

            Union College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            University of Rochester (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

Utica College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)

and an EA2 plan (12-15)]

            Vassar College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Webb Institute (of Naval Architecture) (10-16)

            Yeshiva University (11-1) [for Honors applicants only]

NORTH CAROLINA

            Davidson College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-6)]

            Duke University (11-4)

          Elon University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Guilford College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            High Point University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-1) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)

            Meredith College (10-30) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

Queens University of Charlotte (11-15) [also supports an Early Action             

plan (11-15) and an EA2 plan (1-18)]

            Wake Forest University (11-15) [this is a rolling ED plan—decisions will be

made as applications received up until deadline; also supports an Early Action for first-generation applicants only (11-15)]

            Warren Wilson College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

OHIO

            Antioch College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-2)]

Case Western Reserve University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)

and an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            College of Wooster (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-30)]

            Denison University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Kenyon College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Miami University of Ohio (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)

and an EA2 plan (12-1)]

Oberlin College and Conservatory (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-2)

College applicants only; NO ED for Conservatory applicants]

Ohio Wesleyan University (11-15) [also supports an Early

Action plan (12-1)]

            Wittenberg University (11-11) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

OKLAHOMA

          University of Tulsa (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1) and

                                                                                    an EA2 plan (2-1)]

OREGON

          Lewis and Clark College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

Reed College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (12-20) and an Early

Action plan (11-1)]

            Willamette University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

PENNSYLVANIA

          Allegheny College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1) and

an EA2 plan (2-1)]

            Bryn Mawr College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Bucknell University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

Carnegie Mellon University (11-1)

          Dickinson College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Drexel University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Franklin and Marshall College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-6)]

            Gettysburg College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Grove City College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (12-1)]

            Haverford College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

            Juniata College (11-15) [also supports an EA plan (12-1) and an

EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Lafayette College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Lehigh University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Lycoming College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Muhlenberg College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-15) and an

Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Saint Joseph’s University (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Susquehanna University (11-15) [also supports an Early Action

 plan (11-1) and an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Swarthmore College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-4)]

            University of Pennsylvania (11-1)

            Ursinus College (12-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-1) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Villanova University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Washington and Jefferson College (12-15) [also supports an Early Action

plan (1-15)]

Westminster College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

Wilkes University (11-15)

York College of Pennsylvania (11-1)

RHODE ISLAND

          Brown University (11-1)

Bryant University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

Providence College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Rhode Island School of Design (11-1)

            Salve Regina University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)

                                                                        and an EA2 plan (1-5)]

SOUTH CAROLINA

            Coastal Carolina University (10-15) [also supports an Early Action

                                                                                                plan (11-15)]

            College of Charleston (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and

an Early Action plan (11-1)]

Furman University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Wofford College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 (1-15) plan and an

Early Action plan (11-15)]

TENNESSEE

            Rhodes College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

                                                                                    Early Action plan (11-15)]

Sewanee: The University of The South (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan  

(1-15) and an Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Vanderbilt University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

TEXAS

            Baylor University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

          Rice University (11-1)

            Southern Methodist University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15)

and an Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Southwestern University (11-5) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-3)]

Texas Christian University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-1) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            Trinity University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (2-1) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

VERMONT

          Bennington College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-15) and an

Early Action plan (12-1)]

            Champlain College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-15)]

            Middlebury College (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-3)]

Sterling College (11-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (12-15)

and an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            University of Vermont (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

VIRGINIA

Christopher Newport University (11-15) [also supports an Early Action

plan (12-1)]

            College of William and Mary (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-5)]

Hampden-Sydney College (11-1) [also an Early Action plan (10-15) and

an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Hollins University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

            Longwood University (11-2) (for nursing applicants ONLY) [also supports

                                    an Early Action plan for all applicants (12-1)]

            Randolph-Macon College (11-15) [also supports an Early

                                                                                    Action plan (10-17)]

            Roanoke College (10-15) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)

                                                                                    and an EA2 plan (12-15)]

            Sweet Briar College (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-15)]

University of Lynchburg (11-15)

            University of Mary Washington (11-1) [also supports an Early Action

                                                                                                plan (11-15)]

            University of Richmond (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1) and an

Early Action plan (11-1)]

            University of Virginia (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)]

Virginia Military Institute (11-15)

            Washington and Lee University (11-1) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-1)]

WASHINGTON

          University of Puget Sound (11-1) [also supports an Early Action

plan (11-1)]

            Whitman College (11-15) [also supports an ED2 plan (1-10)]

WISCONSIN

            Lawrence University (11-1) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-1)

                                                                        and an EA2 plan (12-1)]

This list was compiled by Cigus Vanni, longtime NACAC member (that’s a kind way of describing “really old”) of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Associations for College Admission Counseling and former member of the NACAC Professional Development Committee (2007-2010). Sources consulted included Big Future by the College Board; the National Center for Education Statistics; the admissions requirement grid of the Common Application; individual college websites; the College Board Common Data Set; and various college admissions offices on websites and by telephone (telephone—how quaint!).  As is the case with all aspects of college admission, use lists as guides and be certain to double check with individual admissions offices. If you become aware of any inaccuracies or omissions, please contact me and I will amend and republish the list

Permission to share and duplicate is freely given—distribution trumps attribution

U.S. Colleges that Support Early Action Plans

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE US WITH EARLY ACTION (NON-BINDING) ADMISSION DECISION PLANS

(cross referenced with schools with Early Decision [ED] plans)

[dates are in US format with month first, then day]

[last modified July 20, 2024]

ALABAMA

          Auburn University (12-1) [rolling plan—first round in mid-September,

                                                                        final deadline 12-1)

ARKANSAS

          Hendrix College (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (2-1)]

            University of Arkansas (11-1)

CALIFORNIA

          Azusa Pacific University (11-15)

Biola University (11-30)

California College of the Arts (11-15)

California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) (11-1) [single-choice restrictive

plan as follows:

            Students who choose to apply REA to Caltech may neither apply Early Action nor Early Decision to any other institution, with the following exceptions:

  • An institution outside of the United States;
  • Any public institution that has a non-binding admissions policy with a fall application deadline (such as the University of California system);
  • An institution’s non-binding rolling admissions process;
  • Any military academy;
  • Any scholarships or special academic programs with an early deadline at another institution, public or private, if the early application submission is a necessary aspect for consideration, and the outcome is non-binding;
  • If you are deferred admission after applying REA to Caltech, you may apply to another institution’s Early Decision 2 program. If you are admitted to that institution’s Early Decision 2 program, you are required to withdraw your application of admission to Caltech

California Lutheran University (11-15)

            Chapman University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Concordia University Irvine (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (2-15)]

            Dharma Real Buddhist University (11-15)

            Loyola Marymount University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-1) and ED2 plan (1-8)]

            Menlo College (11-15)

            Minerva University (11-1)

            Mount Saint Mary’s University (12-1)

            Otis College of Art and Design (12-1)

            Pepperdine University (11-1)

            Point Loma Nazarene University (11-15)

            Saint Mary’s College of California (11-1)

            Santa Clara University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision (11-1) plan

                                                                                    and an ED2 plan (1-7)]

            Soka University of America (11-1)

Stanford University (11-1; 10-15 w/ arts portfolio) [single-choice restrictive

plan as follows:

  • if you apply to Stanford with a decision plan of Restrictive Early Action, you may not apply to any other private college/university under their Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Early Decision, or Early Notification plan.
  • you may not apply to any public university under an early binding plan, such as Early Decision.
  • if you apply to Stanford under Restrictive Early Action, you may apply to other colleges and universities under their Regular Decision plan.
  • if you apply to Stanford under Restrictive Early Action and you are either not offered admission or your application is deferred, you may apply to another college’s Early Decision 2 plan.

Exceptions

It is Stanford policy that you may simultaneously apply to Stanford with a decision plan of Restrictive Early Action and to the following:

  • any public college/university with a non-binding early application plan or early application deadline.
  • any college/university with a non-binding rolling admission process.
  • any foreign college/university with a non-binding application plan on any schedule.
  • any military academy.
  • any college/university with an early deadline for a scholarship or special academic program, as long as:
    • the decision is non-binding; and
    • applying early is required in order to be considered for the scholarship or program.

University of Redlands (11-15)

University of San Francisco (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

(11-1) and ED2 plans (1-15)]

            University of Southern California (11-1)

            University of the Pacific (11-15)

            Vanguard University of Southern California (12-1)

            Westmont College (10-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (11-1)]

            Whittier College (11-15)

            Zaytuna College (10-31)

COLORADO

          Colorado College (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and

 ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Colorado School of Mines (11-1)

            Colorado State University (12-1)

            Regis University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (10-1)]

            University of Colorado Boulder (11-15)

            University of Denver (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and ED2

                                                                                                (1-15) plans]

            University of Northern Colorado (12-1)

CONNECTICUT

          Eastern Connecticut State University (11-15)

Fairfield University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision (11-15)

and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Quinnipiac University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            United States Coast Guard Academy (10-15)

            University of Bridgeport (12-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (2-1)]

            University of Hartford (11-15)

            University of New Haven (12-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                plan (12-1) and an EA2 plan (2-15)]

            Yale University [single-choice restrictive plan as follows:

            Single-Choice Early Action applicants may also apply through other early admissions programs if the other program fits any of the descriptions below:

  • The early admissions program is a non-binding rolling admission program.
  • The early admissions program is a non-binding early program at a public institution.
  • The early admissions program is an Early Decision or Early Action program that notifies applicants after January 1. 
  • The early admissions program is at an institution outside the United States.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

American University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                            and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

Catholic University of America (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                        plan (11-1) and an ED2 plan (2-1)]

            George Mason University (11-1)

            Georgetown University (11-1) [restrictive plan as follows:

            Georgetown’s Early Action program is grounded in the belief that students should be free to choose among colleges until the May 1, Candidate’s Reply Date. Accordingly, admitted Early Action students will have the same reply date as Regular Decision candidates. In keeping with this principle, students applying under the Early Action program may not apply to any binding Early Decision programs since they then would not be free to choose Georgetown if admitted. Students are, however, allowed to apply to other Early Action or other Regular Decision programs while simultaneously applying to Georgetown’s Early Action program.

Early Action applicants may not simultaneously apply to another school’s Early Decision I or Early Decision 2 Program.  Early Action applicants who have been deferred to Regular Decision may subsequently apply to another school’s Early Decision 2 program

            Howard University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

FLORIDA

Eckerd College (11-15)

Florida Atlantic University (10-15)

Florida Southern College (11-1) [also supports an Early

                                                            Decision plan (11-1)]

Florida State University (10-15; for Florida residents only)

Lynn University (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15)]

New College of Florida (11-1)

Nova Southeastern University (11-1) [also supports an Early

                                                                        Decision plan (11-1)]

            Ringling College of Art and Design (11-1) (for computer animation majors

                                    ONLY—all other majors apply via rolling admission)

            Stetson University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            University of Central Florida (10-15)

            University of Florida (11-1)

            University of Miami (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and ED2

(1-6) plans]

            University of Tampa (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

GEORGIA

          Agnes Scott College (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-16) and an

                                                                                    Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Berry College (11-1)

            Clark Atlanta College (11-1)

            Covenant College (11-15)

            Georgia College and State University (10-15)

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) (10-16; for Georgia residents

only) [also supports an Early Action plan (11-2) for out-of-state students]

            Mercer University (11-11)

            Morehouse College (12-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Oglethorpe University (12-1)

            Spelman College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            University of Georgia (10-15)

            University of North Georgia (11-15)

HAWAI’I

            Hawai’i Pacific University (11-15)

IDAHO

          College of Idaho (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Northwest Nazarene University (11-15)

ILLINOIS

          Augustana College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

          DePaul University (11-15)

            Elmhurst University (11-1)

            Governors State University (11-15)

            Illinois College (12-1)

            Illinois Institute of Technology (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                                                            plan (11-1)]

            Illinois State University (11-1)

Illinois Wesleyan University (11-15)

            Knox College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1) and

an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Lake Forest College (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1), an

                                    ED2 (1-15) plan and an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Lewis University (12-1)

            Monmouth College (11-15)

            Principia College (12-1)

            School of the Art Institute of Chicago (11-15)

University of Chicago (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and                                                                         ED2 (1-6) plans]

            University of Illinois Chicago (11-1)

            University of Illinois Shampoo-Banana (11-1)

            Wheaton College (10-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (11-15)]

INDIANA

          Butler University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                                        for nursing applicants only]

            DePauw University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15); an Early

                                                            Decision plan (11-1); and an ED2 plan (12-15)]

            Earlham College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Grace College (11-1)

            Hanover College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15)

            Holy Cross College (11-1)

            Indiana University Bloomington (11-1)

            Purdue University (11-1)

            Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (11-1)

            Taylor University (10-15)

            University of Evansville (11-1)

University of Notre Dame (11-1) [restrictive plan as follows:

A student applying Restrictive Early Action to Notre Dame may apply to other Early Action programs at either private or public colleges or universities; a student applying Restrictive Early Action to Notre Dame may not apply to any college or university (private or public) in their binding Early Decision 1 program; if you apply to Notre Dame through REA, you may apply to any Early Decision 2 program as this has a deadline post our REA decision release in mid-December. 

Wabash College (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

IOWA

          Coe College (12-10) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

            Cornell College (12-1)

            University of Iowa (11-1)

KANSAS

          University of Kansas (11-1)

KENTUCKY

            Bellarmine University (11-1)

            Centre College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)

and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Transylvania University (10-31) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            University of Kentucky (12-1)

LOUISIANA

          Centenary College of Louisiana (12-1)

Loyola University of New Orleans (11-15)

Tulane University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

MAINE

          College of the Atlantic (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)

                                                                                    and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

Maine College of Art and Design (12-1)

            Maine Maritime Academy (11-30)

            Saint Joseph’s College of Maine (11-15)

            Thomas College (12-15)

            University of Maine Farmington (12-1)

            University of Maine Orono (12-1)

            University of New England (11-15)

            University of Southern Maine (12-1)

MARYLAND

          Frostburg State University (11-15)

Goucher College (11-15)

            Loyola University in Maryland (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                        plan (11-15) and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Maryland Institute College of Art (12-1)

            McDaniel College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Morgan State University (12-1)

Mount Saint Mary’s University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Salisbury University (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

            Saint John’s College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Saint Mary’s College of Maryland (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                                                            plan (11-1)]

            Towson University (11-15)

            University of Maryland Baltimore County (11-1)

            University of Maryland College Park (11-1)

            Washington College (12-1) [also supports Early Decision plan (11-15)]

MASSACHUSETTS

          Anna Maria College (11-15)

Assumption University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan

(11-15) and an EA2 plan (12-15)]

            Babson College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1) and

an ED2 plan (1-2)]

            Bay Path University (12-15)

            Berklee College of Music (11-1)

            Bridgewater State University (11-15)

            Clark University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)

                                                                        and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Curry College (12-1)

            Dean College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Emerson College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                                        and an ED2 plan (1-3)]

            Emmanuel College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15) and

                                                            an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Framingham State University (11-15)

            Gordon College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 (12-1) plan]

            Hampshire College (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)

and an ED2 plan (1-1)

            Harvard/Radcliffe Colleges (11-1); single-choice restrictive plan as follows:

  • If you are applying to Harvard under Restrictive Early Action, you may not apply to any other private institution under an Early Decision, Early Action, or Restrictive Early Action plan, or to a binding early program at a public university.
  • You are welcome to apply early to any public university, military academy, or university outside of the United States under a non-binding program. 
  • Additionally, you are able to apply to other universities under their Regular Decision or Early Decision II programs. 
  • If your application is deferred in the early action round, you may apply to a binding early decision program at another college (i.e. Early Decision II).
  • You may apply for scholarships or special academic programs with an early deadline at another institution, public or private, if the timing is proven to be a necessary aspect for consideration, and the outcome is non-binding.  

Lasell University (12-15)

Lesley University (12-1)

            Massachusetts College of Art and Design (12-1)

            Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (12-1)

            Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University (11-1)

                                                            [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (11-1)

            Massachusetts Maritime Academy (11-1)

            Merrimack College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

            Nichols College (12-1)

Northeastern University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-1) and an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Regis College (11-15)

            Salem State University (11-15)

            Simmons University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Stonehill College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15); an Early

Decision plan (12-1); and an ED2 plan (2-1)]

            Suffolk University (11-15)

            University of Massachusetts Amherst (11-5)

            University of Massachusetts Boston (11-1) [also supports an EA2

plan (1-1)]

            University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (11-15)

            University of Massachusetts Lowell (11-5) [also supports an EA2

                                                                                                plan (1-5)]

            Wentworth Institute of Technology (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-1)]

            Wheaton College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision (11-15) and

an ED2 (1-15) plan]

            Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (11-1) [also supports an Early

              Decision plan (11-1), an ED2 plan (1-5) and an EA2 plan (1-5)]

            Worcester State University (11-15)

MICHIGAN

            Albion College (12-1)

            College for Creative Studies (12-1)

            Hope College (11-1)

            Kalamazoo College (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1)]

            Kettering University (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Michigan State University (11-1)

            University of Detroit Mercy (11-1)

            University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (11-1)

            Western Michigan University (12-15)

MINNESOTA

          College of Saint Benedict and Saint Joseph’s University (11-15)

[also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Gustavus Adolphus College (11-1)

            Hamline University (11-1)

            Macalester College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                                        and an ED2 plan (1-1)]

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (12-1)

Saint Olaf College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                            and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            University of Saint Thomas (11-1)

MISSISSIPPI

          Millsaps College (11-15)

MISSOURI

          Evangel University (11-15)

            Saint Louis University (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan

                                                                        (11-1) and an ED2 plan (1-16)]

MONTANA

          Carroll College (11-1)

NEBRASKA

          Creighton University (11-1)

NEW HAMPSHIRE

          Colby-Sawyer College (12-15)

            Institute of Art and Design at New England College (11-1)

          Rivier University (12-31)

            Saint Anselm College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (12-1)]

            Southern New Hampshire University (11-15)

            University of New Hampshire (11-15)

NEW JERSEY

            Caldwell University (12-1)

            Centenary University (11-1)

            Drew University (12-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and

                                                                        ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Kean University (1-1)

            Monmouth University (12-1) [also supports an Early

Decision plan (11-15)]

            Montclair State University (12-1)

            New Jersey Institute of Technology (11-15) [also supports an EA2

plan (12-15)]

            Princeton University (11-1) single-choice restrictive plan as follows:

You may not apply to an early program at any other private college or university. However, please note the following:

  • You may apply early to any public institution or service academy, as long as the decision is nonbinding.
  • You may apply early to any international institution, as long as the decision is nonbinding.
  • You may apply early to any college or university with a nonbinding rolling admission process.

            Ramapo College of New Jersey (12-15) [also supports an Early                                                                                                                Decision plan (11-1)]

            Rider University (11-15)

            Rutgers University Camden (11-1)

            Rutgers University New Brunswick (11-1)

            Rutgers University Newark (11-1)

            Seton Hall University (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15)]

            Stevens Institute of Technology (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                        plan (11-15) and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

NEW MEXICO

          Saint John’s College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

NEW YORK

          Adelphi University (12-1)

            Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (11-15) [also supports

                                                                        an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Alfred University (12-1)

            Bard College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

and an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Binghamton University (11-1)

            Canisius College (12-1)

            D’Youville University (12-1)

            Elmira College (11-15)

            Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School (11-1)

            Fordham University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Hobart and William Smith Colleges (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                        plan (11-15) and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

Hofstra University (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15)]

Iona College (12-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15) and an Early

Decision plan (12-1)]

            Ithaca College (12-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

Jewish Theological Seminary of America, List College Joint Program with

   Columbia University College of General Studies (1-1) [also supports an

            Early Decision plan (11-1) and an ED2 plan (1-1)

Le Moyne College (11-15)

            LIM College (11-15)

            Long Island University Brooklyn (11-15) [also supports an Early

                                                                                                Decision plan (12-15)]

            Long Island University Post (11-15) [also supports an Early

                                                                                    Decision plan (12-15)]

            Manhattanville College (11-17)

            Marist College (11-15) [also supports Early Decision (11-15) and

ED2 (2-15) plans]

            Molloy University (12-1)

            Nazareth University (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            New School College of Performing Arts (11-1)

            New York Institute of Technology (11-15)

            Pace University (11-15) [also supports an Early

                                    Decision plan (11-1) and an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Parsons School of Design of The New School (11-1)

            Paul Smith’s College (11-15)

            Pratt Institute (11-15)

            Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) (12-1) [also supports an Early

                                    Decision plan (11-1) and an ED2 plan (1-3)]

            Rochester Institute of Technology (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                                                plan and an ED2 plan (1-1)]

            Russell Sage College (12-1)

            Saint John’s University (12-1)

            Saint Lawrence University (12-2) [also supports an Early Decision plan—

                                                                                    apply after 11-1, by 2-1]

            Sarah Lawrence College (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1)

                                                                        and ED2 (1-5) plans]

            Siena College (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15) and

an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

            State University of New York (SUNY) College at Cortland (11-15)

            SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry (11-15)

            SUNY College at Geneseo (11-15)

            SUNY College at New Paltz (11-15)

            SUNY College at Old Westbury (11-15)

            SUNY College at Oneonta (11-15)

            SUNY College at Oswego (11-15)

            SUNY College at Purchase (11-15)

            SUNY Polytechnic Institute (11-15)

            SUNY University at Albany (11-15)

            SUNY University at Buffalo (11-11)

            Stony Brook University (11-1)

            Union College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                                                    and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Utica College (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15) and an

                                                                        Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Wagner College (12-1)

NORTH CAROLINA

          Appalachian State University (11-1)

            Belmont Abbey College (10-30)

          Elon University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Guilford College (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            High Point University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

and an ED2 plan (2-1)]

            Lees McRae College (12-15)

            Lenoir-Rhyne University (11-15)

            Meredith College (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (10-30)]

            North Carolina A&T University (11-1)

            North Carolina Central University (10-15) [also supports an

EA2 plan (11-15)]

            North Carolina State University (11-1)

            Queens University of Charlotte (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-15) and an EA2 plan (1-18)]

            University of North Carolina Asheville (11-1)

            University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (10-15)

            University of North Carolina Charlotte (11-1)

            University of North Carolina Greensboro (11-1)

            University of North Carolina Wilmington (11-1)

            Wake Forest University (11-15 for first generation applicants only; also

                                    supports an rolling ED plan, deadline 11-15)

            Warren Wilson College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-1)]

            Western Carolina University (11-1)

OHIO

          Case Western Reserve University (11-1) [also supports Early

Decision (11-1) and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Cleveland Institute of Art (12-1)

            College of Wooster (11-30) [also supports Early Decision (11-1)

and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            John Carroll University (11-1)

            Miami University of Ohio (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)

and an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Ohio State University (11-11)

            Ohio University (11-15)

            Ohio Wesleyan University (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-15)]

            University of Cincinnati (12-1)

University of Dayton (11-1)

Wittenberg University (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-1)]

OKLAHOMA

University of Tulsa (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (2-1) and

                                                            an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

OREGON

            George Fox University (11-1)

            Lewis and Clark College (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-1)]

            Linfield University (11-1)

            Oregon State University (11-1)

Reed College (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and

                                                                        ED2 (12-20) plans]

            University of Oregon (11-1)

            University of Portland (12-1)

            Willamette University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                        plan (11-1)]

PENNSYLVANIA

          Allegheny College (12-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (2-1) and an

                                                            Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Drexel University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Gettysburg College (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)

                                                                                    and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Juniata College (12-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15) and an Early

Decision plan (11-15)]

            La Salle University (11-1)

            Lincoln University of Pennsylvania (2-1)

            Lycoming College (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)]

            Muhlenberg College (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-15)

                                                                                    and an ED2 plan (2-15)]

            Pennsylvania State University (11-1)

            Saint Joseph’s University (11-15) [also supports Early Decision (11-15)

                                                                                    and ED2 (1-15) plans]

Susquehanna University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1) and an

Early Decision plan (11-15)]

            Temple University (11-1)

            Thomas Jefferson University (11-1)

            University of Scranton (11-15)

            Ursinus College (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (12-1) and

ED2 (2-1) plans]

            Villanova University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                                                    and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

RHODE ISLAND

          Bryant University (11-15) [also supports Early Decision (11-1)

and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Johnson and Wales University (11-1)

            Providence College (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and

ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Rhode Island College (12-15)

            Roger Williams University (11-15)

            Salve Regina University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-5) and an

                                                                        Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            University of Rhode Island (12-1)

SOUTH CAROLINA

          Clemson University (10-15)

            Coastal Carolina University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                                                plan (10-15)]

College of Charleston (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan and an

ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Furman University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)

                                                                                    and an ED2 plan (1-15)]

            Presbyterian College (12-1)

            University of South Carolina at Columbia (10-15)

            Wofford College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1) and                                                                            an ED2 plan (1-15)]

TENNESSEE

          Fisk University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (2-1)]

            Rhodes College (11-15) [also supports Early Decision (11-1)

and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Sewanee: The University of the South (12-1) [also supports Early

Decision (11-15) and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            University of Tennessee Knoxville (11-1)

TEXAS

          Abilene Christian University (11-1)

            Austin College (12-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (2-1)]

            Baylor University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio (10-15)

            Schreiner University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Southern Methodist University (11-1) [also supports and Early

Decision (11-1) and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Southwestern University (12-3) [also supports an Early Decision

plan (11-5)]

            Texas A&M (10-15) [for engineering majors only]

            Texas Christian University (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

(11-1) and an ED2 plan (2-1)]

Texas Lutheran University (11-15)

            Trinity University (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1)

and ED2 (2-1) plans]

            University of Dallas (12-1)

            University of Texas Austin (10-15)

UTAH

            University of Utah (12-1)

            Westminster University (12-2)

VERMONT

          Bennington College (12-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-15)

and ED2 (1-15) plans]

            Champlain College (12-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                                    plan (11-15)]

            Saint Michael’s College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

Sterling College (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15) and an

                                                            Early Decision plan (11-15)]

            University of Vermont (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

VIRGINIA

          Bridgewater College (11-15)

Christendom College (12-1)

            Christopher Newport University (12-1) [also supports an Early

Decision plan (11-15)]

            George Mason University (11-1)

Hampden-Sydney College (10-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                            plan (11-1) and an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Hampton University (11-15)

            Hollins University (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            James Madison University (11-1)

            Longwood University (12-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan

                                                                        for nursing applicants only (11-1)]

            Old Dominion University (12-1)

            Randolph College (11-15)

            Randolph-Macon College (1o-17) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                                                plan (11-15)]

            Roanoke College (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-15) and an

Early Decision plan (10-15)]

            Shenandoah University (11-1)

            Sweet Briar College (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            University of Mary Washington (11-15) [also supports an Early Decision

                                                                                                plan (11-1)]

            University of Richmond (11-1) [also supports Early Decision (11-1) and

                                                                                    ED2 (1-1) plans]

            University of Virginia (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (11-15)

WASHINGTON

            Cornish College of the Arts (12-1)

Northwest University (11-30) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15)]

            Seattle Pacific University (12-1)

            Seattle University (11-15)

            University of Puget Sound (11-1) [also supports an Early Decision

            plan (11-1)]

            Western Washington University (11-1)

            Whitworth University (11-15) [also supports an EA2 plan (1-15)]

WEST VIRGINIA

          Shepherd University (11-15)

WISCONSIN

          Beloit College (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1)]

            Lawrence University (11-1) [also supports an EA2 plan (12-1) and an

Early Decision plan (11-1)]

            Marquette University (11-15)

            University of Wisconsin (11-1)

            This list was compiled by Cigus Vanni, longtime NACAC member (that’s a kind way of describing “really old”) of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Associations for College Admission Counseling and former member of the NACAC Professional Development Committee (2007-2010). Sources consulted included Big Future by the College Board; the National Center for Education Statistics; the admissions requirement grid of the Common Application; individual college websites; the College Board Common Data Set; and various college admissions offices on websites and by telephone (telephone—how quaint!).  As is the case with all aspects of college admission, use lists as guides and be certain to double check with individual admissions offices. If you become aware of any inaccuracies or omissions, please contact me and I will amend and republish the list.

Permission to share and duplicate is freely given—distribution trumps attribution

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