Early Decision
The Early Decision Program is a binding option for students who have decided that Tufts is their first choice and that they will enroll if accepted. Early Decision deadlines allow the student to apply and be notified well in advance of the Regular Decision notification dates.
The Commitment
Applying early is not a decision to be taken lightly. If you are accepted through Early Decision, you have agreed to come to Tufts. If denied, your application is taken out of the applicant pool and you are unable to reapply for that academic year.
The third possible outcome is that your application is deferred. If deferred, your application is sent into the regular decision applicant pool. You will not need to reapply and admission will no longer be binding. Deferred ED applicants receive their admission decision by April 1, when Regular Decision candidates are notified.
The Process
In order to acknowledge that you wish to be considered under the Early Decision program, you must submit a signed Early Decision Form. The form must be signed by the student, either a parent or a guardian, and a school counselor. You will find the Early Decision Form on the Common Application site or the Coalition Application site when you apply.
Early Decision applicants are held to same standard as Regular Decision applicants, and the application requirements are the same. The only difference is that they agree to binding admission and they apply sooner.
The Deadlines
| Application Deadline | Notification Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 4, 2024 | Mid-December |
| Early Decision II | January 6, 2025 | Mid-February |
| Deferred ED I and II | Not Applicable | By April 1 |
Please keep in mind that financial aid application deadlines may differ from admissions deadlines.
SAT and ACT Score Submission
We are extending our test-optional policy for an additional three years, beginning with students applying for Fall 2024 admission, giving applicants a choice about whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for undergraduate admission to Tufts University. For candidates applying Early Decision I who choose to submit scores, Tufts will accept standardized test scores from ACT exams taken in October and SAT exams taken in November. Tufts will accept self-reported testing on the Common Application, QuestBridge Application, and Coalition Application when students are applying. Students who are admitted and choose to enroll at Tufts will be required to verify their self-reported testing by sending their official scores. If any discrepancies are found during the verification process, it may jeopardize the student's offer of admission.