Early decision applications increase by 10 percent

The Admission Office received 2,000 early decision applications, an increase of 10 percent over last year. Half of the prospective students applied to the University using new Web-based forms introduced for the first time this year.

The University offers prospective students who have made Princeton their first choice the opportunity to apply through binding early decision, which requires that students not apply elsewhere and, if they are admitted, they agree to matriculate. The early decision application deadline was Nov. 1.

The Admission Office offered prospective students for the class of 2009 three new options for applying to the University: online and paper versions of the Common Application, a standardized form used by colleges and universities across the nation, and the online Princeton form. Rapelye said 25 percent of the early decision applicants used the online and paper versions of the Common Application.

"The response to the Common Application and our new Web-based forms was much more than we ever expected," said Janet Rapelye, dean of admission. "We've achieved an important goal of opening up new avenues for students to reach us."

Notification letters are scheduled to be mailed to early decision applicants in mid-December. Regular decision applications are due by Jan. 2. Regular decision applicants are scheduled to be notified of admission in early April. Princeton received approximately 14,000 applications last year.

Contact: Lauren Robinson-Brown (609) 258-3601