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Navigating the Holiday Season as a 12th Grader: What to Expect with Early College Results
The holiday season is almost here! Christmas lights are going up, New Year celebrations are on the horizon, and the festive spirit is in the air. At the same time, many of you are wrapping up your last week of school, juggling exams, quizzes, and final projects. It’s a lot to handle all at once.
Take a moment to pause and breathe. You’ve worked incredibly hard all year, and soon, you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel. Early Action (EA), Restrictive Early Action (REA), and Early Decision (ED) results are starting to arrive, bringing the culmination of all your efforts.
No matter the outcome, remember that this is just one step on your journey. Celebrate your efforts, reflect on your achievements, and stay focused on the exciting opportunities ahead.
As you await your early admissions results, it’s important to remember that there are three possible scenarios you might encounter:
Accepted (ED/REA): You Got Into Your Dream School!
Celebrate. You earned this. Enjoy every moment.
Deferred
Take a deep breath - this is not a rejection.
Now is the time to think strategically:
- Do you want to apply ED II anywhere?
ED II can significantly increase your chances at many schools. - You can apply ED II to your next top-choice school, if they offer it.
- However, if your true top choice is your in-state school or public school (Berkeley, UCLA, UW, UT Austin, UMD… ) do not apply ED II.
(These schools don’t offer ED and your best chance remains in Regular Decision.)
Your PathIvy counselor can help walk you through the pros/cons again. Please arrange a meeting with your PathIvy counselor.
Rejected
Try not to worry. This is only the beginning.
More EA decisions will continue through Jan 31st, and many schools release in waves.
You STILL have options:
- Consider ED II if you have a strong second-choice school that offers it.
- Use this as an opportunity to refine your strategy.
- RD is still full of possibility - your story is far from over.
PathIvy counselors are here to guide you every step of the way. Book your free one-on-one session with PathIvy.
Early Results Calendar (Tentative)
Here are the expected EA/REA/ED notification dates for many top schools.
Use this as a reference. The exact dates may shift slightly.
|
School |
Early Plan(s) Offered |
202526 Early Notification (EA/ED/REA) |
|
Harvard University |
REA |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Yale University |
REA |
Dec 17, 2025 (5pm ET, expected) |
|
Princeton University |
REA |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Columbia University |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Brown University |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Dartmouth College |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
University of Pennsylvania |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Cornell University |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
EA |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Stanford University |
REA |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
REA |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
University of Chicago |
ED I / EA / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I / EA); Mid-February 2026 (ED II) |
|
Duke University |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Northwestern University |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Johns Hopkins University |
ED I / ED II |
Dec 12, 2025 (ED I); Feb 13, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Rice University |
ED I / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I); Mid-February 2026 (ED II) |
|
Vanderbilt University |
ED I / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I); Mid-February 2026 (ED II) |
|
Washington University in St. Louis |
ED I / ED II |
Dec 12, 2025 (ED I); Feb 13, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Emory University |
ED I / ED II |
By Dec 15, 2025 (ED I); By Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
ED |
Dec 15, 2025 |
|
University of Notre Dame |
REA |
Dec 16, 2025 |
|
Georgetown University |
EA |
Dec 15, 2025 |
|
University of Southern California (USC) |
EA |
Mid Late January 2026 |
|
New York University (NYU) |
ED I / ED II |
Dec 15, 2025 (ED I); Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Boston College |
ED I / ED II |
Dec 2 or by Dec 15, 2025 (ED I); By Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Boston University |
ED I / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I); Mid-February 2026 (ED II) |
|
Tufts University |
ED I / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I); Early February 2026 (ED II) |
|
Northeastern University |
ED I / EA / ED II |
By Jan 1, 2026 (ED I); By Feb 15, 2026 (EA); By Mar 1, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Wake Forest University |
ED I / EA / ED II |
Rolling (ED I); By Jan 15, 2026 (EA); Around Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Villanova University |
ED I / EA / ED II |
By Dec 1, 2025 (ED I); By Jan 20, 2026 (EA); By Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
University of Michigan Ann Arbor |
EA |
By Jan 3031, 2026 (EA); By Dec 24, 2025 for some early applicants |
|
University of Virginia |
ED / EA |
Dec 1315, 2025 (ED); By Feb 15, 2026 (EA) |
|
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill |
EA |
By Dec 20, 2025 (in-state); By Feb 10, 2026 (out-of-state) |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology |
EA I / EA II |
Early Dec 2025 (EA I in-state); Late Jan 2026 (EA II) |
|
Purdue University West Lafayette |
EA |
Jan 15, 2025 |
|
University of Maryland College Park |
EA |
By Feb 1, 2026 |
|
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign |
EA |
Jan 30/31, 2026 |
|
University of Texas at Austin |
Priority |
By Jan 15, 2026 |
|
University of Wisconsin Madison |
EA |
On or before Jan 31, 2026 |
|
University of Georgia |
EA |
By Dec 1, 2025 (in state); Mid December 2025 (out of state) |
|
Williams College |
ED |
Dec 15, 2025 |
|
Amherst College |
ED |
Dec 12, 2025 |
|
Swarthmore College |
ED I / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I); Mid-February 2026 (ED II) |
|
Pomona College |
ED I / ED II |
By Dec 15, 2025 (ED I); By Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Claremont McKenna College |
ED I / ED II |
By Dec 15, 2025 (ED I); By Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Bowdoin College |
ED I / ED II |
Dec 12, 2025 (ED I); Early Feb 2026 (ED II) |
|
Middlebury College |
ED I / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I, TBD); Mid-February 2026 (ED II, TBD) |
|
Wellesley College |
ED I / ED II |
Mid-December 2025 (ED I); Mid-February 2026 (ED II) |
|
Barnard College |
ED |
Mid-December 2025 |
|
Haverford College |
ED I / ED II |
Dec 15, 2025 (ED I); Early Feb 2026 (ED II) |
|
Harvey Mudd College |
ED I / ED II |
Dec 15, 2025 (ED I); Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
|
Hamilton College |
ED I / ED II |
By Dec 19, 2025 (ED I); By Feb 15, 2026 (ED II) |
You’ve got this and we’re cheering for you every step of the way!
This is an exciting, yet naturally stressful, time. Waiting for Early Action (EA), Restrictive Early Action (REA), or Early Decision (ED) results can feel overwhelming. But remember: no matter the outcome, you are on the path that’s meant for you. Every experience, every application, and every effort has brought you closer to the right opportunity.
Support is Always Here
If you’re feeling nervous about results or need guidance on ED II strategy, essay tweaks, or simply want to talk through your anxieties, we’re here. Don’t hesitate to reach out - we’re ready to help you navigate every step with confidence and clarity.
Looking Ahead to Celebration
And yes, we’re already looking forward to celebrating your achievements! Graduation in June will be the perfect moment to mark all your hard work and dedication. The journey may be challenging at times, but the destination- and the celebrations along the way - are absolutely worth it.
Stay positive, stay focused, and remember: this is your moment, and you’ve got this!