With the completion of our main Committee on Admission meetings comes the big question: When will decision letters be sent out? Well, before we get to that exact date, please understand that although the main committee is over, the staff will convene again this week to finalize certain decisions. Understand, too, that there are still many other things we have to do before decision letters can be released. Approximately 3,200 students applied Early Action, meaning that 3,200 letters must be printed, signed, and proofread. We also must go through our EA roster and make sure that each student's actual letter matches up with the decision that we have made. It sounds like a relatively simple process, but understand that it takes time with 3,200 applicants!

Therefore, the decision letters will leave our office on Saturday, December 23 and will likely arrive in students' mailboxes during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. While we may have been ready to send the letters as early as Friday, December 22, we decided to hold off on mailing the letters until Saturday so that no students would receive their letters before Christmas. So again, look for Early Action decision letters to arrive sometime between December 26 and January 1.

We've also had some EA applicants asking if decisions will be available online at any point, and the answer to that question is no, they will not be. All decisions are released via letter in the mail and that is the only way we make them available (please do not call our office-- it is school policy not to give out decisions over the phone). I know this makes a little bit of an additional wait but we want to make sure that students are receiving their decisions at (relatively) the same time via the mail.

Another popular question has been, "When will I know if I've been invited into the Liberal Arts Honors Program or received a merit scholarship?" The answer is approximately 1-2 weeks after you have received your admission decision letter. We are currently conducting our Honors Program and scholarship review, and it is looking like letters accepting students into the Liberal Arts Honors Program (and also offering a merit scholarship) will be mailed on Friday, December 29. (By the way, there is no separate application required to be considered for the Honors Program-- all applicants are automatically considered based on their application materials. The Liberal Arts Honors Program spaces and merit scholarships are awarded to our highest academic achievers in the applicant pool).

Later this week, I will provide you with some observations (of my own along with some of my colleagues) about our Early Action Committee on Admission meetings and will also attempt to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to send your questions, comments, or thoughts my way!