Many schools are leaning in to early application windows, filling more of their classes through early rounds. At Tulane University in New Orleans, about two-thirds of admissions offers to the Class of 2030 were extended via nonbinding early action, a spokesperson said. The school has also offered early decision since 2016.
At some schools, early-round acceptance rates are three to four times higher than the regular round, which is why many admissions consultants suggest applying early. Colleges say this reflects a higher-quality applicant pool.
At the University of Chicago, the yield rate has skyrocketed from about 40% in 2011 to almost 90% last year. One boost in recent years: an even-earlier application round—known as “early decision zero”—for already-vetted summer-program attendees.
The school has asked some students who applied for nonbinding early action if they would like to switch to binding early decision, college counselors say. Applicants worry that if they don’t switch, UChicago will think the school isn’t their first choice and reject them. Jamie Beaton, founder of admissions-consulting firm Crimson Education, said the firm advised most of its targeted clients to switch this year—and all who did, got in.
