For SMU or TCU, Early Decision identifies students who consider the University as their first choice. Prime candidates for Early Decision include applicants who are prepared to make a contractual commitment to attend should the respective university offer them admission. Early Decision will be available to SMU’s and TCU’s class entering fall of 2014. Students may apply to only one school through an Early Decision plan.
“Our goal remains clear: Create a dynamic freshman class while treating every applicant with respect,” said Heath I. Einstein, director of freshman admission at TCU. “ This option improves the application process for both universities and their applicants alike.”
By allowing applicants to indicate a desire for a binding contract with their first choice college early in the application process, SMU and TCU can make admission decisions partially based on the high level of interest of the applicants. Early Decision applicants will receive notice that their decision has been released no later than Jan. 1 to allow appropriate time to apply elsewhere if necessary. Both schools’ Early Decision application deadline is Nov. 1.
Unlike most colleges with Early Decision, SMU and TCU will continue to offer an Early Action option, which will remain non-binding. Early Action provides students with a decision early in their senior year without requiring an immediate or binding decision from the applicant. The Early Action application deadline for both schools is also Nov. 1.
In addition to the Early Decision deadline of Nov. 1, SMU also will offer students a second-round binding application option known as Early Decision II. This allows student who identify SMU as their first choice later in the process to indicate their commitment to attend SMU if offered admission.
While Early Decision is a well-known option for the most selective schools throughout the East and West coast, it is lesser known in Texas. SMU and TCU join Rice University in Houston and Trinity University in San Antonio in offering this option to their applicants.
“As both SMU and TCU rise in academic profile and selectivity, students are eager to demonstrate their commitment to attend. These are very popular schools right now for high school seniors throughout the United States,” said SMU Dean of Undergraduate Admission Wes K. Waggoner. He also indicated that in recent years, a number of students have asked to have an Early Decision option available when applying to SMU.