Santa Clara University’s admission pages state that Early Decision I and Early Action are both due November 1, with the CSS Profile and FAFSA due November 15; the application requires only one teacher or counselor recommendation and offers an optional supplemental essay of 150 to 300 words. Irvine 12th graders who want to add this essay to their application have two weeks.
Who Is Affected by the Santa Clara Early Deadlines
High school seniors applying to Santa Clara University through the Common Application. The dates for each round are:
| Round | Application deadline | CSS Profile and FAFSA | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | November 15 | Late December |
| Early Action | November 1 | November 15 | Late December |
| Early Decision II | January 7, 2027 | January 15 | Mid-February |
| Regular Decision | January 7, 2027 | February 1 | Late March |
Early Decision I and II are binding; Early Action is not. Early Decision I and Early Action applicants who want scores considered must test by October at the latest, and California residents have until March 2 for the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form.
What to Do Now About the Santa Clara Supplemental Essay
Decide whether to write the optional essay. The prompt asks the student to choose an issue the student cares about and believes is important to address, in the local community or globally, and to explain how a Santa Clara education can help the student address it. A strong approach grounds the issue in a specific experience before connecting it to the university’s courses or resources, within the 150 to 300 word range. The essay is submitted through the university’s application portal, not the Common Application.
Assemble the required materials. These include the transcript (grade nine through the most recent term), one academic teacher evaluation or counselor recommendation, the secondary school report, and the $75 application fee or a valid waiver. Applicants first choose a school within the university; for natural science, business, and engineering applicants, the university expects readiness at the level of calculus.
Essay topics and revisions are covered by the EDUBUS College Essay Bootcamp, and early rounds by the college admissions planning service.
Sources
- Santa Clara University: First-Year Students (accessed October 18, 2026)
- Santa Clara University: First-Year Key Deadlines (accessed October 18, 2026)
- Middlebury ED Due November 2, No SupplementMiddlebury College's Early Decision I deadline is November 2, and it requires no supplemental essay, so the main essay carries more weight. Dates and requirements.
- Occidental Early Decision Due November 1Occidental College's Early Decision I and Early Action deadlines are November 1, applying is free, and Early Decision admits receive at least $20,000 a year.
- Wesleyan Early Decision Due November 15Wesleyan University's Early Decision I application and financial aid deadlines are both November 15, and aid applicants pay no application fee. Dates and materials.
- Boston University Early Decision Due Nov. 2Boston University's Early Decision deadline is November 2, with decisions December 14, and engineering applicants must have a year of calculus. Dates and rules.
