Will my early decision application be deferred by Dartmouth?

I applied early decision to Dartmouth and the wait for a response is killing me. I was wondering, does Dartmouth often defer early decision applicants? If they do, what are my chances of eventually getting accepted?

While Dartmouth, like many colleges, does occasionally defer Early Decision applicants to the Regular Decision pool, they prefer to give definitive decisions in the Early Decision round when possible. In other words, they opt to either accept or reject applicants straightaway. This is because of the clarity it provides to applicants as well as the certainty in yield that the Early Decision agreement grants (i.e., admitted Early Decision applicants are obligated to attend).

Nonetheless, if they do defer you, it means that they see potential in your application but need additional time or context to make a decision, including reviewing your application within the broader Regular Decision applicant pool. Keep in mind, though, that the number of students who are accepted after being deferred can vary greatly from year to year.

While it's tough to give a definitive answer without specific data, remember that regardless of the outcome, you've already shown immense initiative by applying Early Decision, demonstrating your commitment to your education and to Dartmouth. Best of luck!