Early Decision
Early Decision I Deadlines
- November 1
Application Deadline
- December / JanuaryFinancial Aid Deadline:
IDOC: December 4, 2024;
FAFSA: January 8, 2025 - December 15
Decision Notification
- January 15
Enrollment Deposit Deadline
- Early Decision I is a binding program that allows you to learn of your admission decision early in your senior year.
- The Early Decision agreement is required and must be signed by the student, parent/guardian, and school counselor.
- Students can apply Early Decision to Oxford College, Emory College, or both. If you are accepted to both Oxford College and Emory College, you can choose which campus to attend.
- If you apply Early Decision to both Oxford College and Emory College, and you are admitted Early Decision to only one of the campuses, you will need to pay your admission deposit to that school.
Early Decision II Deadlines
- January 1
Application Deadline
- January 8
Financial Aid Deadline
- February 15
Decision Notification
- March 1
Enrollment Deposit Deadline
- Early Decision II is a binding program that allows you to learn of your admission decision by February 15.
- The Early Decision agreement is required and must be signed by the student, parent/guardian, and school counselor.
- Students can apply Early Decision to Oxford College, Emory College or both. If you are accepted to both Oxford College and Emory College Early Decision, you have until the deposit date to choose which campus to attend.
- If you apply Early Decision to both Oxford College and Emory College, and you are admitted Early Decision to only one of the campuses, you will need to pay your admission deposit to that school.
Is Early Decision right for you?
Who Should Apply Early Decision?
One of the most common questions we get this time of year is “Should I apply Early Decision?” The November 1st Early Decision I (ED I) deadline is often a time when many high school seniors are considering whether to make the binding commitment that goes along with applying ED. We hope to provide some direction on how to tackle this important question and some advice on whether to ED or not to ED.
Early Decision FAQs
No, students may not apply Early Decision I (EDI) to more than one institution at the same time. However, students may apply sequentially, using Early Decision I (EDI) and then Early Decision II (EDII) if they are not admitted through EDI in mid-December.
The exception is for students applying to both Emory College of Arts and Sciences and Oxford College under an Early Decision plan, as both are part of Emory University. You may still apply to other institutions under Regular Decision or rolling admission plans.
If admitted under an Early Decision plan, students must immediately withdraw applications to other institutions. We strongly advise applying Early Decision only if you are fully committed to the decision and intend to honor the Early Decision contract without exception.
Binding means you are entering into a contractual agreement stating that Emory University is your first choice school, and that, if admitted with adequate financial aid, you will enroll here and withdraw all other college applications.
Emory’s Early Decision agreement is binding, so you cannot apply to any other school under a binding early decision plan or a binding early action plan. You can still apply to other schools under a nonbinding early action plan, rolling admission, or regular decision plan.
Yes. If you have filed the required financial aid application materials by our financial aid deadline, you will receive a financial aid evaluation before the enrollment deadline. Generally, financial aid packages are supplied within two business days of being admitted.
Full details about financial aid requirements and deadlines can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website.
Absolutely. You can opt in to be considered for scholars on your Early Decision application. Remember that the Early Decision I application deadline is November 1. (But the deadline for EDII and RD is November 15 if you also want to be considered for scholar programs.)
Scholar awards are not finalized until early April. If your decision to attend Emory University is dependent upon receiving a merit-based scholarship, you are advised to apply under Regular Decision.