Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision

If Gettysburg College is your top choice, why wait? Apply via Early Decision today!

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Early Decision (ED)

Students for whom Gettysburg College is a first choice are strongly encouraged to apply for Early Decision admission. The deadline for ED I is November 1 and the deadline for ED II is January 20.

A completed ED application includes: The Common Application, the Early Decision Form, official secondary school transcript, first quarter senior grades, a counselor recommendation, a secondary school report, a teacher recommendation and standardized testing if the student is not applying testing optional.

Notification of the admissions decision will be released in the student’s Gettysburg application portal by December 1 for ED I and February 20 for ED II. If accepted and provided adequate financial assistance, the applicant agrees to withdraw all applications submitted to other institutions, file no additional applications, and enroll at Gettysburg. Most Early Decision applicants who are not offered acceptance will be considered again for Regular Decision admission. Additional semester grades or new test scores may be submitted for applicants deferred to Regular Decision.

Benefits of Applying Early Decision at Gettysburg College

Gettysburg College’s Early Decision (ED) plan is intended for students who have conducted a thorough and thoughtful college search and have decided that Gettysburg is their first-choice college. Early Decision applicants are committing to attend Gettysburg College.

Students who apply via Early Decision will receive their admissions decision and any scholarship award within one month of the deadline. Additionally, these students will also receive:

• 100% of need met if applying for need-based financial aid
• Early course registration for the first year
• Priority housing selection for the first year

In recent years, about 40% of Gettysburg’s first-year students have been enrolled through Early Decision.

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Early Action (EA)

Students applying as an EA candidate to Gettysburg College should submit the Common Application by November 15.

A completed EA application includes: The Common Application, official secondary school transcript, first quarter senior grades, a counselor recommendation, a secondary school report, a teacher recommendation and standardized testing if the student is not applying testing optional.

Most offers of acceptance will be released in the student portal by early January. Because Gettysburg College subscribes to the principle of the Candidate's Reply Date, students have until May 1 to make their decision and pay the enrollment deposit.

Regular Decision (RD)

Students applying as a RD candidate to Gettysburg College should submit the Common Application by January 15.

A completed RD application includes: The Common Application, official secondary school transcript, mid-year grades for the senior year, a counselor recommendation, a secondary school report, a teacher recommendation and standardized testing if the student is not applying testing optional.

Most offers of acceptance will be released in the student portal by mid-March. Because Gettysburg College subscribes to the principle of the Candidate's Reply Date, students have until May 1 to make their decision and pay the enrollment deposit.

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5 Common Myths Debunked

Are you still unsure about applying via Early Decision? Below, we dispel five common myths about Early Decision.

Myth #1

You can’t apply Early Decision if you don’t have your senior mid-year grades yet.

Fact: Yes, you can. Gettysburg College will accept your final junior grades during the application process.

Myth #2

You aren’t eligible for academic merit scholarships or need-based financial aid if you apply Early Decision.

Fact: Early Decision applications will be automatically reviewed for academic merit scholarships. Notification will be sent with acceptance letters. If students and families have applied for need-based financial aid through the FAFSA and CSS Profile, financial aid awards will be included with the students’ acceptance packets. Early Decision applicants are NOT disadvantaged in merit scholarship or need-based aid awards in any way.

Myth #3

You can’t apply Early Decision if you miss the November deadline.

Fact: Gettysburg offers two Early Decision deadline dates—November 1 for EDI and January 20 for EDII. We encourage you to have conversations with your family and school counselor before applying Early Decision. For students who submit their application under Regular Decision and decide later in the process that they are interested in being considered within the Early Decision applicant pool, they should contact the Admissions Office to convert their application.

Myth #4

You won’t be considered under Regular Decision if you weren’t accepted under Early Decision.

Fact: In most cases, students applying Early Decision who are not offered acceptance will automatically be deferred for consideration under Regular Decision admission, allowing the admissions committee to see a more complete application with senior mid-year grades.

Myth #5

Early Decision and Early Action are the same.

Fact: No, Early Decision and Early Action are not the same. Applicants under Early Decision are committing to attend Gettysburg College. Please see our Applying to Gettysburg page for more information about our Early Action and Early Decision policies.