These concerns are to some extent grounded in fact, but one of the big success stories at Bowdoin recently is the growing socio-economic, racial, ethnic, and other diversity in the ED applicant pool. Much has been written about access to colleges and the concern that students from wealthy, well-educated families are the ones most likely to know that ED is an option. Virtually 100% of our aided ED admits receive an aid offer that makes it possible for them to attend Bowdoin. We evaluate applications on a need-blind basis, and we award need-based aid in ED the same way we do in regular admission. Then what? The admission offer is binding-will the student be forced to enroll? IsnвЂ™t it better to compare multiple aid offers from the colleges that send letters of admission in March? I understand the hesitation, but in fact, we almost never disappoint an ED admit with our financial aid offer (if we admit you, we are trying to do whatвЂ™s right in order for you to attend). They worry that the offer of admission might come through, but without enough aid to make the College affordable. Some people think an ED deferral is the kiss of death, but itвЂ™s not-we admit a fair number of our ED defer candidates each year.ДЇamilies planning to apply for need-based financial aid are often cautious about applying ED. A third group of students will receive ED deferral letters, indicating that we have real interest in the student but want to take a second look at the application later, along with the many other candidates weвЂ™ll consider for regular admission. We think itвЂ™s best to send those applicants an ED deny letter, allowing them to move ahead with other applications where they may be more successful. For several hundred more ED applicants, we are certain that we will not make an offer of admission, now or later. The College wants many talents and characteristics in its entering class each year, and it helps to begin forming the new class with students who are ready to commit to the Bowdoin experience. When we evaluate ED applications at Bowdoin, we are asking ourselves: is this a person we would admit in March, if we reviewed the student in our regular admission program? For about 200 students each year, that answer is yes. (An important word about ED and financial aid in just a minute). For all the hype about ED, most students do not apply to Bowdoin ED, partly because they arenвЂ™t that clear about one place being their first choice and because they want to consider multiple colleges and (hopefully) multiple offers of admission and/or financial aid when the good news comes in March. We have both ED 1 and ED 2, with November 15 and January 1 deadlines, respectively. Other college applications are withdrawn or never submitted. It is a binding application agreement if admitted, the student enrolls. While the vast majority of college-bound seniors will settle their plans in the spring, many students are spending part of the fall wrestling with the question, вЂњShould I apply early decision (ED)?вЂќД®arly decision is for the student who is absolutely sure that Bowdoin is his or her first choice. They will wait to see where they are admitted in March, then make the final choice in April. Most students will apply in December, including an astounding number who apply at 11:59:59 p.m. I met a student the other day who has shortened her list to a reasonable number last week I met with a young man who said that he hasnвЂ™t been able to eliminate any school from consideration yet because every college looks great. Others have visited a few schools and have more visits planned this fall. Some seniors have moved ahead with their college searches and have a first choice. Thankfully the over-anxious crowd doesnвЂ™t seem to be interested in Bowdoin in big numbers. A few exceptionally organized students have already submitted their applications the online Common Application goes live on August 1 each year, and The New York Times ran a story last month on the first application submitted-at 12:01 a.m. BowdoinвЂ™s Dean of Admissions, Scott Meiklejohn, writes about the myths and realities of early decision.ДЄs the calendar flips to September, many high school seniors are looking ahead to the application deadlines for college and university admission.

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