More than 40% of the Class of 2011 applied Early Decision. In many ways, ED is the most pure of
all college admission programs. It eliminates all of
the "game playing" that has increasingly
characterized the competitive admission process. If
a student sees a fit with Dickinson, and we agree,
he/she will be admitted. It's as simple as that. Following
are reasons why ED is a service to realistic candidates:
- Due to the smaller size of the applicant pool, candidates are evaluated based upon their own merits rather than in competition with other applicants.
- The candidates learn early in their college planning if they have been admitted to the College.
- Applicants not accepted may be reconsidered on an equal basis with regular applicants for admission and may ultimately be admitted. However, the review committee may deny an application for admission if it is determined that additional information from the senior year would not affect a final decision.
- Accepted ED candidates who file timely financial-aid applications are guaranteed financial aid in the amount of their demonstrated need as computed by Dickinson College. Standard financial- aid packages, including grant, loan and job components, are awarded. Occasionally a parent loan is included to help meet need.
Dickinson has two ED deadlines: November 15 (decision notification by mid-December) and January 15 (decision notification by mid-February). ED applications are encouraged from students who know that Dickinson is their first choice. It is a binding program. If admitted, students agree to withdraw all other applications and submit their enrollment deposit within three weeks of notification.
ED candidates must submit all information required for admission as well as the signed Early Decision Agreement form, Part II of the supplement.
To read more about Early Decision, refer to www.dickinson.edu/admit/ed.html |
Students applying to Dickinson in the Early Action program should note that it is our most competitive applicant pool in terms of the caliber of students who apply and the quality of those we admit, and our admissions committee is more conservative with offers of admission. At Dickinson, applying EA does not demonstrate to the admissions committee your special interest or connection to Dickinson. Some benefits to applying EA include learning your admissions and financial-aid status early and giving yourself extra time to make your decision (notification is in mid-January but you will not be required to place an enrollment deposit until May 1). It is important to understand as well, because EA is such a competitive pool, that only the strongest applicants will be accepted and deferral to the Regular Decision pool is very common.
Applicants who are deferred to the Regular Decision pool will be reviewed again in that context. If a student is deferred from Early Action, he or she should contact his/her regional counselor. Receiving a decision for deferral affords students with an opportunity to enhance their application and demonstrate their continued interest in Dickinson. |
