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Every year many students who know St. Lawrence is their first choice apply Early Decision. The application process is over sooner, students learn by mid-December or early February if they have been admitted, and they can start planning for their SLU experience. Approximately 23% of the Class of 2011 chose St. Lawrence through Early Decision. If you have done your research and you are certain that we are #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?
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 very similar to that of students admitted Regular Decision, although the percentage of applicants offered admission Early Decision is higher.
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. In addition, students who are not applying for need-based financial aid but who are depending on receiving a merit scholarship in order to be able to afford St. Lawrence should not apply Early Decision. Although many Early Decision candidates are awarded merit scholarships, students must be prepared to uphold their commitment regardless of whether they receive merit aid.
Q. Will I be considered for merit scholarships?
A. Yes. You will be considered for University Scholarships on the basis of your admissions application. If you submit the required essay for the Community Service or Presidential Diversity Scholarships by the appropriate Early Decision deadline, you will be considered for those awards as well. All candidates for the Vilas and Sesquicentennial 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 request an Early Version Financial Aid Application (EVFAA) from the Financial Aid Office as soon as you decide to apply Early Decision or download it here.
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 first Early Decision application deadline is November 15 and decision letters are mailed by December 15. The second Early Decision deadline is January 15 and decisions are mailed approximately February 10.
Q. Why would someone choose the second Early Decision deadline?
A. Some students make the decision that St. Lawrence is their first choice later in the fall and the second Early Decision deadline allows them to still make an early commitment. Other students want their first semester grades from senior year considered in the evaluation of their application. Others may have applied unsuccessfully to another school under the first Early Decision deadline and then decide to apply to St. Lawrence using the second Early Decision deadline.
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