• Business School
    • Admissions Help
    • School-Specific MBA Essay Tips
    • Executive MBA Essay Tips
    • MBA Admissions Calendar
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
    • EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants
  • Medical School
    • Admissions Help
    • Med School Admissions 101
    • Secondary Essay Tips (by School)
    • Student Interviews
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
  • Law School
    • Admissions Help
    • Law School Admissions 101
    • Selectivity Index
    • Free Guides
    • Podcast
    • Video Tips
  • Graduate School
    • Admissions Help
    • Grad School Admissions 101
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
  • College
    • Admissions Help
    • Free Guides
    • Supplemental Essay Tips
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
Accepted

1 (310) 815-9553

Blog HomePodcastContact Us

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

December 29, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ivies: Number of Early-Admission Applications Near Historic High

Ivies: Number of Early-Admission Applications Near Historic High

A number of the most selective colleges in the US are reporting near-record numbers of students applying for early admission, the Wall Street Journal recently stated. 

Applications for both binding early-decision, and the more flexible early-action option increased last year at elite schools including Harvard University and Brown University. Many schools have canceled their testing requirements and campus visits due to the COVID pandemic and are still trying to decide if students who deferred admission last year would take spots from this year’s applicants. 

Early-decision applications were down this year at the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University from fall 2020. However, the numbers were still higher than those reported by the schools in other recent admissions cycles. 

Columbia’s early-decision applications were down an insignificant 2% this year at 6,305 applications, but that figure is still 40% higher than the previous record. Dartmouth received a miniscule 1% fewer early-decision applications, while Penn received 2% fewer. 

In contrast, Brown University reported 11% more early-decision applications. This may be due to the school’s expanded financial aid program.

The number of applicants for Yale University’s restrictive early-action program was marginally lower than last year, but was higher than 2019. Yale does not allow applicants to apply to additional private colleges in the early-admissions round. Students can submit applications to other schools in the regular application round and need not commit until spring. 

Yale had 7,288 students apply through the early-action program. Of these, 11% were admitted. 

Harvard had 9,406 students apply through early-action, and admitted 7.9%. This represents a marginally higher admit rate and lower applicant rate than last year.

Changes in testing and reporting

COVID continues to affect college admissions requirements. Harvard will extend its test-optional policy for a minimum of four years, as some students have difficulty accessing test sites due to the pandemic. 

Hundreds of other colleges, including the most selective, have stated that they will remain test-optional for at least the next couple of years. Some are permanently abandoning testing requirements. According to FairTest, a nonprofit that encourages less reliance on standardized tests, nearly 80% of undergrad programs are not requiring current high school seniors to take either the SAT or ACT. Other top-tier schools will likely join Harvard in moving to a test-optional model as they compete for the same applicants.

Princeton University stated that it would stop releasing application or acceptance numbers for early or regular admission cycles.

According to Princeton’s admissions website, “We know this information raises the anxiety level of prospective students and their families and, unfortunately, may discourage some prospective students from applying.”

Stanford was the first to stop reporting this data in 2018, when it stated that they it would de-emphasize the apparent value of low acceptance rates. Cornell University has also said it would stop publicizing such detailed data. 

The early bird catches the acceptance letter?

Applicants in the early admissions rounds usually have a much higher chance of being accepted than those who wait for the regular decision cycle. 

Early admissions applicants tend to come from wealthier families – and are therefore less likely to need to wait for competitive financial aid offers – and attend high schools with more vigorous college counseling services. FairTest reported that nearly 60% of students who submitted the Common Application through November 16 lived in the most prosperous 20% of nationwide ZIP codes, compared to 5% of applicants from the least prosperous 20% ZIP codes. 

As each student submits more college applications, the schools are having a more difficult time predicting the yield, that is, how many students will go on to enroll. A close approximation of the yield is crucial in making decisions regarding how many students to accept and, in turn, enrollment numbers determine a school’s allocation of resources. Accepting too many students can cause a school to run out of housing or classroom space, whilst too few can lead to lack of revenue.

Many schools have mitigated this level of unpredictability by offering binding admissions decisions, thereby guaranteeing a portion of their enrollment. Some of these schools – including the most selective – are now filling half of their freshman classes with early commits.

Early action, early decision, or regular admission – which is best for you? Our Admissions Consultation Experts are experienced in assessing the pros and cons and determining which admissions cycle best suits your needs. Let us help you navigate the options to get you ACCEPTED!

Ivy League and Common Application Tips: How to get Accepted

AcceptedAccepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to top colleges and universities for 25 years. Our team of admissions consultants features former admissions committee members and highly experienced college admissions consultants who have guided our clients to admission at top programs including Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, University of Chicago, and Yale. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related resources:

  • Ivy League Colleges Accept Record Low Number of Students
  • College Admissions: Mining Identity for College Essays, Personal Statements
  • Sample College Application Essays

Article by Accepted / College Admissions / Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell, Dartmouth Tuck, Harvard, Ivy League, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Yale

Get Accepted!

Choose your desired degree and then the service that best meets your needs.

Which program are you applying to?

What do you need help with?

Join the informed applicants who read Accepted's blog!

8 Popular Posts

1. 2022-23 AMCAS Work and Activities Section: What to Include (With Examples)

2. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

3. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

4. How to Write About Your Research Interests

5. Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Secondary Application Tips [2022-2023]

6. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

7. Top 10 LSAT Study Tips

8. M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2022

Recent Posts

  • Georgetown University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]
  • Stanford GSB MBA Application Essay Tips and Deadlines [2022 – 2023], Class Profile
  • An Interview With the Temple Katz School of Medicine Admissions Dean [Episode 476]
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

This Site is Featured on GMATClub

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2022 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in