If you have identified Connecticut College as your first choice, we encourage you to apply Early Decision. Early Decision is a binding commitment, and, if admitted, you agree to enroll at Connecticut College, pending an adequate financial aid award.
There are two rounds of Early Decision at Connecticut College: Early Decision Round I (ED I) and Early Decision Round II (ED II).
| Application Type | Common Application Deadline | Financial Aid Deadline | Notification Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I* (EDI) | November 1 | November 1 | mid-December |
| Early Decision II (EDII) | January 15 | January 14 | mid-February |
How to apply Early Decision
If you decide to apply Early Decision, you, your college counselor and a parent or legal guardian must sign the Common Application Early Decision Agreement Form. If you submit your Common Application as an Early Action or regular decision candidate and later decide to convert to Early Decision, please contact our office so that we may email a copy of the ED Agreement Form that is used in such cases.
The difference between Early Decision and Early Action
When you apply Early Decision (ED), you are making a commitment to enroll at Conn when you apply. It’s like saying, “Hey, Connecticut College! You’re my top choice! If you admit me, I’m definitely going to be a Camel!” There are two rounds of Early Decision at Connecticut College, Early Decision I (ED I) and Early Decision II (ED II). Both rounds of Early Decision are binding and indicate the same level of commitment to the College, but they have different deadlines and notification dates (see chart above).
An Early Action (EA) application is just like a Regular Decision application, but earlier! Applying Early Action provides you the benefit of getting a college decision by mid-December, but does not require you to make any commitment to Connecticut College up front. Applicants who are admitted in the EA round will get a decision before winter break, and have until May 1 to decide if they would like to enroll at Connecticut College.
Applying for financial aid as an Early Decision candidate
Early Decision is a binding commitment. If admitted, you agree to enroll at Connecticut College, pending an adequate financial aid award.
If you plan to apply for financial aid, you must do so by the corresponding Early Decision financial aid deadlines listed above. Since we are committed to your attendance at the College, we ask that you reference the following section of our website to obtain a ball-park estimate of what your family's contribution could be. If you have any questions about the methodology used, please contact Financial Aid Services (860-439-2058 or email finaid@conncoll.edu). We ask that you go through this process before rendering a final decision about whether to apply Early Decision.
If you're interested in a financial pre-read, visit the Net Price Calculator. And if you're interested in potential merit aid, contact the Office of Admission at admission@conncoll.edu.
Early Decision and applying to other colleges
As an Early Decision applicant, you may submit Early Action and/or Regular Decision applications to other colleges in the meantime with the understanding that you will withdraw these applications and initiate no new ones if you are accepted to Connecticut College. (See acceptance notification dates above.)
Connecticut College reserves the right to withdraw your application if you apply simultaneously to more than one college as an Early Decision applicant, or if you do not withdraw your applications from other colleges after notification of your acceptance to Connecticut College.
The College's decision
Early Decision candidates may be admitted, denied or "deferred." All deferred candidates are reconsidered for Regular Decision and need not submit a new application. A deferral is not a rejection. A deferral releases you from your binding commitment to enroll if you are admitted and reflects the Admission Committee's interest in receiving more information from you, like midyear grades or additional testing, before a final decision is reached.
When it is clear to the Admission Committee that an Early Decision candidate will not be competitive for admission, the application is denied and the applicant informed in the Early Decision notification period to allow the student to focus on alternative plans.