Ivy schools see more early apps.

Of the six schools with 'early decision,' Penn got the most applications. More students applied early to the eight Ivy League schools this year than ever before, according to early-application statistics from the elite group. Of the six schools with a binding early-decision round -- Penn, Columbia, Cornell, Princeton and Yale universities and Dartmouth College -- Penn received the most applications. The University's Admissions Office sent out acceptance letters last month to 920, or 42 percent, of the 2,165 early-applicants. Those accepted early decision will fill 39 percent of the Class of 2003. Since early decision is binding, a school can raise its overall yield rate by accepting a larger portion of its class early decision. A higher yield rate can allow a school to lower its overall acceptance rate. Columbia, Cornell, Penn, Princeton and Yale filled a larger portion of their incoming freshman classes with early applicants than they did for the Class of 2002: · Columbia accepted 543, or 41 percent, of its 1,334 early-decision applicants. The early applicants will comprise 43 percent of Columbia's freshman class next year. · Cornell received a record 2,046 applications and accepted 976, or 48 percent, of them. The students accepted early will fill 32 percent of the Cornell's Class of 2003. · Dartmouth sent out acceptance letters to 395, or 34 percent, of its 1,162 applicants -- filling 36 percent of next year's freshman class. · Princeton accepted 557, or 30 percent, out of a record 1,832 applicants, who will make up 49 percent of the Class of 2003. · Yale admitted 526, or 46 percent, of its record 1,445 early-decision applicants this year. The accepted students will comprise 36 percent of next year's freshman class. Brown and Harvard universities have an early-action program which is not binding. Students accepted early at Brown and Harvard have until May 1 -- the same date as students accepted in the regular-decision round -- to announce their intent to matriculate. · Brown received 2,978 early-action applications this year, a 7 percent decrease from last year. Brown accepted 707 or 24 percent of its early applicants this year. · Harvard received a record 4,589 early applications, a 9 percent increase from last year. The Cambridge, Mass., school accepted 1,186 or 26 percent of its early applicants this year.