Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision

Restrictive Early Action

Restrictive Early Action at Stanford is a non-binding admission option for students who have completed a thorough college search and know that Stanford is their first choice.  Admission decisions are provided by December 15 but admitted students have until May 1 to respond to their offer of admission, enabling students to compare financial aid packages with those from other institutions.  An estimated financial aid award is provided at the time of admission to those who apply and who qualify. The application deadline for Restrictive Early Action is November 1 at Midnight (Pacific Time).

3 Possible Restrictive Early Action Admission Decisions

  1. Applicant is admitted and has until May 1 to respond to the admission offer
  2. Applicant is denied and can not reapply for Regular Decision admission in the same year
  3. Applicant is deferred to the Regular Decision round, where he/she will receive a final decision by April 1 

Stanford’s philosophy is to make final decisions whenever possible, so the vast majority of Restrictive Early Action applicants receive one of the first two decisions noted above.

Facts About Stanford’s Restrictive Early Action Program

  • Stanford’s Restrictive Early Action program is a program for students who know, at the time of application, that Stanford is their first choice – and not a program that should be used as a strategy for admission.  This is the design of a Restrictive Early Action program versus a more open Early Action admission program offered at other institutions.
  • Because a student's financial aid offer is often a critical factor in making a final college choice, Stanford's Restrictive Early Action program provides time for families to consider financial aid awards from multiple schools before making a final commitment to enroll.
  • Applicants agree not to apply to any other school under an Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Early Decision, or Early Notification program.
  • Applicants are allowed to apply for Regular Decision admission at any number of other colleges and universities.

Exceptions to Stanford’s Restrictive Early Action Program

Applicants must agree not to apply Early Decision, Early Action or Early Notification elsewhere. Exceptions exist, however, and as a result, Restrictive Early Action applicants may apply to:

  • Any institution, public or private, under a non-binding Rolling Admission option.
  • Public institutions in a student's home state under a non-binding Early Action program.
  • Foreign colleges/universities on any application schedule.
  • Institutions whose early application deadlines are a requirement for consideration for special academic programs or scholarships only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1.
  • Institutions under an Interim Decision program only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1.

If you would like to request approval to submit a Restrictive Early Action application that doesn't already clearly meet the guidelines detailed in the exceptions noted above, you should call the Office of Undergraduate Admission and request to speak with the Director of Admission to discuss your specific request.

Change of Application Plan

In order to change application status from Restrictive Early Action to Regular Decision, applicants must understand and follow the instructions below.

  • Request change in status by December 1 via email to credentials@stanford.edu  Applicants must confirm that request has been received to ensure that change has been made.
  • We cannot honor a request after that date and will evaluate your completed file under our Restrictive Early Action process. Incomplete Restrictive Early Action files will not be converted automatically to Regular Decision; such files will be deemed incomplete/withdrawn and will not be reviewed for admission.