There is a good article today over at Inside Higher Ed discussing a variety of colleges that have seen an increase in early decision applications this year.  Many people had anticipated that early decision applications would go down this year in large part because of the economic turmoil effecting our country. Because early decision is binding, accepted students will not have the opportunity to compare financial aid awards.

How the increase will effect regular decision applications remains to be seen although it is generally expected that this year will be one of the largest application years in history because the number of high school students is expected to peak this year or next.

Early decision increases were noted at the following colleges:

Bowdoin College                            Up 8%

Claremont McKenna                       Up 28%

Colby College                                 Up13%

Dartmouth College                        Up 10%

Duke University                             Up 25%

George Washington University      Up 30%

Georgetown University                  Up 2%

Hamilton College                          Up 8%

Haverford College                         Up 13%

Middlebury                                    Up 12%

New York University                      Up 1%

Northwestern University               Up 15%

Pomona College                            Up 20%

St. Olaf College                             Up 50%

Union College                               Up 8%

University of Richmond                 Up 14%

Warren Wilson College                 Up 30%

Wesleyan University                      Up 40%

If you would like help finding the best college for you or your student, I offer a FREE 1/2 hour consultation to discuss your needs for college admissions counseling. Give me a call now at 952-449-5245 or drop me an email.