Dates & Deadlines
Choose a decision plan.
Before you apply to Wellesley, you’ll need to choose from one of the following decision plans. Your decision plan will determine when your application materials are due. Press onward for more details—but not before pausing to gaze at these key dates for each decision plan:
| Early Decision I | Early Decision II | Regular Decision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application | November 1 | January 1 | January 8 |
| Financial Aid* | November 1** | January 1** | January 15 |
| Quarter Grades | November 15 | January 9 | N/A |
| Mid-Year Grades | February 26*** | February 26*** | February 10 |
| Notification | Mid-December | Mid-February | Late March |
| Reply/Deposit | Early January | Late February | May 1 |
| Final Transcript | July 8*** | July 8*** | July 8*** |
* International financial aid deadlines differ. Please see the deadlines for international financial aid applicants.
** For all required financial aid application materials, please see this Student Financial Services page. As a result of changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act, the Department of Education is releasing the FAFSA in early January 2024. Please know that this has no negative effect on our financial aid processes or decision release. Early Decision applicants will be reviewed using information on the CSS Profile and accompanying income documentation, if required. Once you submit your application, please refer to the financial aid checklist in your portal to monitor the status of your aid application and complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA when it becomes available in early January. Students admitted through Early Decision will need to complete the FAFSA when it becomes available.
*** Only required of enrolling students.
Early Decision Round I
Overview
Have you fallen in love with Wellesley? If admitted, are you ready to commit to attending? Well then. Get ready to meet Early Decision.
Early Decision I (ED I) is a binding plan for students who decide that Wellesley is their first choice. The difference between ED I and Early Decision II (ED II) is that the deadlines for ED II are slightly later. If you’re applying Early Decision Round I or Round II, be sure to complete the Early Decision Agreement with your application. Before submitting your application, you’ll need to list your parent or guardian’s email address on the recommended page to ensure they sign their portion of the Early Decision Agreement.
You are allowed to apply to only one school under either Early Decision option. If you are offered admission to Wellesley under one of our Early Decision plans and submit your enrollment confirmation, you are required to withdraw your applications from other colleges and universities. Also, you will need to submit the $600 enrollment fee in early January.
Application instructions
-
Select the option marked “Early Decision I.”
-
It's that easy!
Early Decision I deadlines
- Standardized tests: We recommend that you complete your testing by the end of your junior year. The last possible test dates for SAT or ACT are in late October or early November of your senior year.
- Application: November 1
- Wellesley-specific writing supplement: November 3
- Financial aid application: November 1
- Admission decision and financial aid notification: Mid-December
- Candidate’s reply date and enrollment deposit due: Early January
Early Decision Round II
Overview
Early Decision II (ED II) is basically the same as ED I, except the deadlines are slightly later.
It is a binding plan for students who decide that Wellesley is their first choice. If you’re applying Early Decision Round I or Round II, be sure to complete the Early Decision Agreement with your application. Before submitting your application, you’ll need to list your parent or guardian’s email address on the recommended page to ensure they sign their portion of the Early Decision Agreement.
If you are offered admission to Wellesley under ED II and submit your enrollment confirmation, you are required to withdraw your applications from other colleges and universities. Also, you will need to submit the $600 enrollment fee by February.
You are only allowed to apply to one school under the Early Decision option.
Application instructions
- Select the option marked “Early Decision II.”
- Done!
Early Decision II deadlines
- Standardized tests: We recommend that you complete your testing by the end of your junior year. The last possible test dates for SAT or ACT are in early December of your senior year.
- Application: January 1
- Wellesley-specific writing supplement: January 3
- Financial aid application: January 1
- Admission decision and financial aid notification: Mid-February
- Candidate’s reply date and enrollment deposit due: Late February
Regular Decision
Overview
Do you plan to apply to a broad range of schools and take time to consider many options?
Regular Decision is used by the majority of applicants and will give you the most time to complete your application.
The drawback to applying under the Regular Decision option is that it can take a while to hear back from colleges (sometimes as late as early April). Waiting to hear from that one last school will limit the amount of time a student has to make a final decision about which college to attend.
Application instructions
- Select the option marked “Regular Decision.”
- That's it! Pretty easy, right?
Regular Decision deadlines
- Standardized tests: We recommend that you complete your testing in October or November of your senior year. The last possible test dates for SAT or ACT are in early December of your senior year.
- Application: January 8
- Wellesley-specific writing supplement: January 10
- Financial aid application: January 15
- Admission decision and financial aid notification: Late March
- Candidate’s reply date and enrollment deposit due: May 1
It’s different in college.
From product creation to Alexis de Tocqueville, First Year Seminars cover a wide range of topics. The classes are small, so you’ll get a lot of face time with your professors and individualized instruction.
