What is the difference between Early Decision and Early Action or Early Notification?
Early Decision requires a commitment on the part of both the college and the applicant. Early Action and Early Notification offer an early commitment on the part of the college or university but require no commitment to enroll on the part of the applicant. Like most colleges that have an Early Decision program, Colby does not also have an Early Action or Early Notification program. What are the Early Decision deadlines at Colby?
The Early Decision I (Fall Option) deadline for submitting an application is November 15; decisions are mailed by December 15. The Early Decision II (Winter Option) deadline for submitting the application is January 1; decisions are mailed by early February.
May I convert to an Early Decision applicant at any point after these deadlines?
Yes, but only if you have filed your application prior to the deadlines of November 15 or January 1, and only if you are able to subsequently submit a signed Early Decision Commitment prior to our mailing of ED decision letters (i.e., by mid-December, in the case of ED I, or by early February, in the case of ED II).
How do I apply Early Decision using the Common Application?
Indicate your intention to apply Early Decision on both The Common Application and the Colby supplement. If you apply early to Colby you will also be expected to abide by the application guidelines governing Early Decision, including the commitment to enroll at Colby, if admitted. Early Decision candidates are required to submit the Common Application Early Decision Agreement.
Do I have to withdraw my other college applications if I am admitted Early Decision to Colby?
Yes, this is where your part of the Early Decision Agreement comes in. In fairness to other colleges and other applicants, you must withdraw your other applications immediately, and you may not initiate any new applications.
What happens to my application if I am not admitted Early Decision?
Our admissions committee will review your application once again among all regular applications, and we will notify you of our final decision by early April.
If I apply Early Decision I and do not gain admission then, will you move my application to the Early Decision II group?
No, the committee will move your application to the regular pool of applicants and wait for midyear school reports and other new information to arrive in your file.
May I apply for financial aid if I am applying Early Decision?
Yes, U.S. and Canadian residents will be expected to file the College Scholarship Service's Profile and other international students must file the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA). The Profile registration form is available in high school guidance offices, and on the Web. International students must also submit documentation of parents' income from all sources.
We shall notify you of your tentative aid offer at the same time we offer you admission, assuming, of course, that all required documentation has arrived at Colby on time. An early offer of financial assistance will be an estimated award which will be made final after we have reviewed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - for U.S. citizens and permanent residents - and your parents'/buardians' final 2010 income tax returns and other income documentation. The FAFSA should be submitted by February 1, and 2010 income tax returns should be sent directly to Colby as soon as they are ready for filing with the government.
What if the estimated offer of financial aid is not enough to enable me to enroll at Colby?
Colby remains committed to meeting the full financial aid eligibility of every student we admit, and if we offer you admission, we certainly want you to enroll here. The first thing you should do, therefore, is to contact our office and request a review of your aid eligibility. In some cases, we may not be able to revise your aid package, but we do want the opportunity to understand your financial difficulties and to help you and your family find a way to meet college costs. If, after our review and before you pay your deposit, you still believe you cannot afford to attend Colby, you must notify us immediately, and we shall withdraw your application from further consideration.
When must I take the required standardized tests if I am applying Early Decision?
If applying Early Decision I, you should take all required tests by November 1. If you must sit for tests in early November,you should inform us of this in writing. Early Decision II applicants must complete all required tests by mid-December.
Are there any disadvantages to applying Early Decision?
Only if you have not done your homework on colleges and are really unprepared to make an Early Decision commitment. If you are still unsure about which college is your first choice, you should apply for a regular decision.
What are the advantages of applying Early Decision?
You make an emphatic statement that Colby is your first-choice, and if admitted Early Decision, you do not have to wait until springtime to make final your college plans. 
