Deadlines
Deadlines
W&L offers binding Early Decision and non-binding Regular Decision application options. Each option has its own deadlines, so you may choose which option works best for you.
Early decision DEADLINES
- ED Application I: November 1
- ED Application II: January 1
REGULAR DECISION DEADLINES
- Johnson Scholarship: December 1
- Admission: January 1
- Financial Aid: February 15
Binding Early Decision
Students who determine Washington and Lee as their first-choice college may apply through our Early Decision (ED) program. By applying Early Decision, students commit to enroll at W&L if they are admitted and withdraw all other college applications — regardless of country — immediately after confirming their intention to enroll at W&L with a reservation deposit.
ED applicants receive an admission decision within a few weeks of the application deadline, along with details of any need-based financial aid award for which they qualify. There are two ED deadline options; ED I applicants are weighted equally with ED II applicants.
Because of its binding nature, submitting an Early Decision application requires careful consideration. We recommend discussing this option with parents and your secondary school counselor, in addition to our admissions and financial aid staff, before choosing this option.
EARLY DECISION DEADLINES
- ED Application I: November 1
- ED Application II: January 1
Non-Binding Regular Decision
In contrast to binding Early Decision programs, students applying Regular Decision may consider the admission decisions from all colleges to which they applied before making a final enrollment decision. Students have until May 1 to make their final college choice.
Regular Decisions applicants who meet the January 1 deadline receive their admission decision by April 1, along with the details of any need-based financial aid award or merit-based scholarship for which they might qualify.
REGULAR DECISION DEADLINES
- Johnson Scholarship: December 1
- Admission: January 1
- Financial Aid: February 15
Deadlines
| Application | Application Deadline | Testing Deadline* | Financial Aid Application | Notification Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision Round 1 | November 1 | ACT Oct 23, SAT Nov 5 |
December 1 | Late December |
| Johnson Scholarship | December 1 | SAT Dec 3, ACT Dec 10 |
Varies** | Late March |
| Early Decision Round 2 | January 1 | SAT Dec 3, ACT Dec 10 | January 15 | Late January |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | SAT Dec 3, ACT Dec 10 | February 15 | by April 1 |
| *For first-year undergraduate applicants to the Class of 2027, submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. For more information, please read our standardized testing policy. **Financial aid application deadlines are based on your admission application decision choice (Early Decision 1 or 2, Regular Decision). |
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