Every year many students who know St. Lawrence is their first choice apply Early Decision (ED). The application process is over sooner for students who are admitted ED, and they can start planning for their SLU experience.
Our priority deadline for Early Decision is November 1. We will begin reviewing completed applications on that date. Students who decide later that St. Lawrence is their first choice can commit to Early Decision at any time up until February 1. We will review ED applications on a continual basis, and we will notify Early Decision applicants throughout December and January.
If you have done your research and you are certain that we are Number 1 for you, submit your ED application now.
Some common questions are answered below.
If you have other questions, please contact us.
Q. Are there advantages to applying Early Decision?
Q. Why is the percentage of students admitted at Early Decision higher than it is at Regular Decision?
Q. Is applying Early Decision at St. Lawrence a binding agreement?
Q. Is there anyone who should not apply Early Decision?
Q. Will I be considered for merit scholarships?
Q. Will applying Early Decision affect my financial aid package?
Q. Will I be able to compare my financial aid package with those from other colleges?
Q. If I am not admitted Early Decision, will my application be reviewed again in the regular decision application pool?
Q. What are the application deadlines and notification dates for early decision applicants?
Q. Is there an advantage in applying Early Decision by November 1? Why would someone wait to apply Early Decision?
Q. Is there an advantage to applying before the priority deadline of November 1?
Q. Is there anything extra that students can do to improve their chances of Early Decision admission?
Q. Are there advantages to applying Early Decision?
A. If you have thoroughly researched your college options and are sure St. Lawrence is your first-choice college, applying Early Decision may allow you to complete the application process earlier in your senior year. The academic profile of students admitted early is similar to that of students admitted Regular Decision, although the percentage of applicants offered admission Early Decision is higher.
Q. Why is the percentage of students admitted at Early Decision higher than it is at Regular Decision?
A. When reviewing Early Decision applications, we have room in our class to offer admission to any student whom we believe is a strong match. At Regular Decision, depending on the size and strength of our applicant pool, we generally have more well-matched students than we are able to offer admission to, because we don’t want our first-year class size to be too large.
Q. Is applying Early Decision at St. Lawrence a binding agreement?
A. Yes. By applying Early Decision, you agree that, if admitted, you will enroll at St. Lawrence and you will withdraw all applications from other colleges assuming you have been awarded financial aid to meet your demonstrated financial need. There is an Early Decision Contract that must be signed by you, your counselor and a parent in order to complete your Early Decision application.
Q. Is there anyone who should not apply Early Decision?
A. Students who have not visited campus are discouraged from applying Early Decision because of the binding contract that is involved.
Q. Will I be considered for merit scholarships?
A. Yes. You will be considered for University, Sesquicentennial and Momentum Scholarships on the basis of your admissions application. If you indicate interest in the Community Service, Leadership or Presidential Diversity Scholarships by the appropriate Early Decision deadline, you will be considered for those awards as well. Candidates for the Vilas and Trustee Scholarships are selected in March, but students admitted through the ED process can still be considered for these awards at that time.
Q. Will applying Early Decision affect my financial aid package?
A. No. If you apply and are eligible for need-based financial aid, your financial aid package will be the same as if you applied Regular Decision. In order to be considered for need-based financial aid, please complete the CSS Financial Aid Profile as soon as you decide to apply Early Decision.
Q. Will I be able to compare my financial aid package with those from other colleges?
A. No. Since you agree to withdraw all applications from other colleges if you are admitted to St. Lawrence, you will not have the opportunity to compare your financial aid package from St. Lawrence with other offers from other schools. If this is something you and your family want to be able to do, Early Decision is not a good option for you.
Q. If I am not admitted Early Decision, will my application be reviewed again in the regular decision application pool?
A. Students not admitted Early Decision may be denied admission or may have a decision on their application deferred until Regular Decision. If you are denied admission your application will receive no further consideration. If your application is deferred, it will be reviewed again in March.
Q. What are the application deadlines and notification dates for early decision applicants?
A. The Early Decision priority application deadline is November 1 and decision letters will be mailed in early December. After November 1, students may submit their applications for Early Decision at any time until the Regular Decision deadline of February 1. To do this, simply submit the Early Decision Contract and confirm that your admissions application is complete. We will review Early Decision applications on a continual basis and notify students once a decision has been made.
Q. Is there an advantage in applying Early Decision by November 1? Why would someone wait to apply Early Decision?
A. The advantage to completing your Early Decision application by November 1 is the earlier notification of your admission decision. In most cases, students who apply by November 1 will not need to complete any other college applications before they learn of their admission to St. Lawrence. (And students not admitted Early Decision will still have adequate time to apply elsewhere). However, some students make the decision that St. Lawrence is their first choice later in the fall, once they have had a chance to visit St. Lawrence and other schools they are considering. By allowing students to apply Early Decision on a continual basis, students can make the Early Decision commitment when they are ready.
Q. Is there an advantage to applying before the priority deadline of November 1?
A. No. The admissions staff will not begin to evaluate Early Decision applications until November 1. There is no need to rush your counselor or teachers in getting your letters of recommendation in sooner than that date. All applications received and complete by November 1 will be reviewed in the early rounds of Early Decision.
Q. Is there anything extra that students can do to improve their chances of Early Decision admission?
A. The admissions staff does want to see evidence of your academic performance to date in your senior year. Some schools will include first quarter/term/marking period grades with your transcript when you apply Early Decision. You may request that your counselor submit that information or you may submit a copy of your first term grade report directly. Students who apply Early Decision after the fall trimester or semester is complete are expected to include that
term with their transcript of grades nine through eleven.
In addition, use the Common Application Supplement to help us understand why you believe that St. Lawrence is the best match for you.
Early Decision Bios:
