The University of St. Thomas is changing its admission process this fall by introducing early action and regular decision deadlines.

The new deadlines will replace the rolling admissions system all current St. Thomas students formerly experienced. All applicants starting this fall will be affected by the change.

St. Thomas experienced a 16 percent increase in applications during the 2015-16 recruitment cycle, which led to the reconsideration of the admissions process. Another factor was Free Application for Federal Student Aid moving up the release date of its application, which can now be completed in October rather than January. But Daniel Meyer, vice president for enrollment management at St. Thomas, thinks the general outlook of admitting students needs to be changed.

“In addition to the increase in applications and an early FAFSA, we had a desire to make more consistent admissions decisions by reviewing the totality of an admit type rather than simply ‘rolling’ out decisions as files become complete – our old system,” Meyer said.

Early Action applications will be due on Nov. 1, with an admissions decision received by Dec. 15. Regular Decision applications will be due on Jan. 15, with a decision received by Feb. 15. Any applications received after that will be considered using the rolling admissions system until space is full. Minimum requirements for admissions will remain the same.

The changes were considered by a committee of St. Thomas staff members before being approved by President Julie Sullivan.

“We set up a committee of admissions and financial aid staff to review peer and aspirant schools to determine their admissions calendars,” Meyer said. “We also talked with our colleagues regarding how their institutions were planning to address the new FAFSA process.”

Another change this year will be that admitted students will receive their merit scholarship with their acceptance letter, allowing them more time to make decisions about which college they will be attending. Students don’t have to make a final decision until the National Candidates’ Reply Deadline of May 1, just like previous years.

While Early Action and Regular Decision applicants both have an equal chance of getting accepted, Director of Admissions Kristen Hatfield sees an advantage to applying early and encourages students to do so.

“Applying early has always meant that we could communicate with applicants throughout their senior year, and this allows us to best advise them as they work through the college search process.” Hatfield said.

Meyer agrees and adds it would also allow students more time to consider their scholarship awards when trying to make a decision.

“We do believe it is wise for students to apply Early Action, since they receive the benefit of an earlier admission decision and earlier notification of both their scholarship and need-based financial aid award if they submit the FAFSA earlier,” Meyer said.

For many high school seniors trying to pick a college, it all comes down to the price you’re going to pay. Waiting on scholarship information was something that caused sophomore Katy Struntz a lot of stress before finally deciding to become a Tommie.

“I applied to several private colleges and figuring out scholarship money was the deciding factor when making my final decision,” Struntz said. “Sending out your merit scholarship with your acceptance letter is definitely something that would have helped make my college decision a lot quicker and easier.”

Mary Brickner can be reached at bric0029@stthomas.edu