US College Early Application Countdown: Stanford October 15, Harvard and MIT November 1—How to Choose Between the Last Two SAT Dates
US Undergraduate Early Applications for Fall 2027 Enter the Final Month: Stanford REA Deadline is October 15, Harvard REA and MIT EA Deadlines are November 1. For students still needing standardized test scores, only the November 7 and December 5 SAT dates remain. This article summarizes the deadlines, the differences between ED/EA/REA, and a checklist for the final month.
U.S. undergraduate early admissions for Fall 2027 are entering their final month. Stanford's Restrictive Early Action deadline is October 15, while Harvard and MIT are due on November 1. For students still needing standardized test scores, only the November 7 and December 5 SAT test dates remain.
1. Early Admissions Deadlines for Popular Schools
| School | Early Admissions Type | Deadline | Regular Decision Deadline | Test Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | Restrictive Early Action (REA) | October 15 | January 5 | SAT/ACT listed in application materials (submission requirement subject to official website) |
| Harvard | Restrictive Early Action (REA) | November 1 | January 1 | SAT or ACT required |
| MIT | Early Action (EA) | November 1 | January 4 | SAT or ACT required |
Stanford and MIT will release their early admissions decisions in mid-December; Harvard's official application requirements page does not specify a release date, so please refer to notifications from the admissions office. For other schools, please check their respective official websites for deadlines.
2. What Are the Differences Between ED, EA, and REA?
- ED (Early Decision): Binding admission; you must attend if accepted and can only apply to one school.
- EA (Early Action): Non-binding; you do not need to make an immediate decision upon acceptance and can generally apply to multiple schools.
- REA (Restrictive Early Action): Non-binding, but restricts applying early to other private universities. Specific restrictions vary by school.
Common strategy: Apply to one dream school via REA or ED, and add a few non-conflicting EA schools for safety. Be sure to carefully review the specific restrictions for each school.
3. The Last Two SAT Test Dates
| Test Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration / Change Deadline | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 7 | October 23 | October 27 | Students still needing scores for Harvard and MIT early admissions |
| December 5 | November 20 | November 24 | Students applying for Regular Decision |
These two test dates are also open to international students.
- MIT: Standardized tests for early admissions must be completed by November 30, and by December 31 for regular admissions. The November 7 test date is still in time for early admissions.
- Harvard: Early admissions applicants should ideally have their scores by the end of October, but November scores are also accepted if necessary.
- Stanford: The application deadline is October 15. There are no remaining test dates for early admissions, so you must use the scores you already have.
- The December 5 test date is still available for regular admissions.
4. Checklist for the Final Month
- Finalize your early admissions school list and confirm each school's restrictions on applying early to other institutions
- If you need to retake the test, register for the November 7 SAT by October 23
- Finalize your Common App main essay and wrap up each school's supplemental essays
- Remind your teachers to submit recommendation letters and your school to submit transcripts
- Check if you need to send official language proficiency scores (new TOEFL score reports are now issued electronically only)
- Submit your applications 2–3 days before the deadline to avoid system congestion
Need Help?
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