The application for TCU’s Class of 2026 opens Sunday, Aug. 1, and applicants have a new option for deciding when and how to apply. The university added a second early decision round, allowing those who apply by Feb. 1 to receive a binding decision by April 1.
Senior Admission Counselor Dalton Goodier explains TCU’s admission rounds and what options applicants should weigh in deciding when to apply:
What are the different application deadlines?
TCU has four different deadlines spread across two dates. Our Early Action and Early Decision applications are due Nov. 1, while Regular Decision and Early Decision II will both be due Feb. 1.
How early should I apply?
Generally speaking, applying earlier is better simply because you get your decision earlier. Our Early Action and Early Decision applicants will hear back from TCU by Jan. 1, so you can get a head start on weighing your financial aid options, narrowing down your list of schools or filling your closet with purple!
Sometimes, students will tell us they are waiting to apply later so they have a chance to bring up their grades or take another standardized test. (Remember, TCU is test optional through 2023). While this makes intuitive sense, it is usually still best to apply earlier if you can. If a student’s grades are truly borderline for admission, we will ask for their fall grades before making a final decision anyway. Because of this, applying earlier can be beneficial, but we won’t ever let that hurt your application.
What is Early Decision?
Early Decision is a different type of application because it includes a contract that you, your school counselor and guardian all sign that essentially states that you’re committing to coming to TCU if you’re admitted.
This is a great move for students who are completely, 100% all about TCU. If the doctor was wearing purple scrubs when you were born, if your favorite team to play with in NCAA ’14 has been TCU since you were 9 or if you saw a Horned Frog the first time you went to the zoo and thought it was the coolest animal you’ve ever seen—Early Decision might be the right move for you!
It is important to note that, if you apply Early Decision, you’re making that binding commitment before you hear back about any academic scholarships or need-based aid you might receive. If you love TCU but know that cost is going to be a big factor in your decision, there are other ways to demonstrate your interest to us. Contact your counselor if you have questions about Early Decision and we’ll be happy to help!
What’s the benefit of applying Early Decision?
TCU places so much value on our sense of community and the relationships that make the school special, so we really want those students who have tons of school spirit and love the university to have every opportunity to become Horned Frogs. Because of this, we’ll essentially give some bonus points to students who apply to one of our Early Decision deadlines.
This can be a great option if you don’t quite hit some of the academic metrics in our enrolled student profile. If TCU is your undisputed top choice and you know it’s a good fit for you academically, socially, financially and spiritually, then an Early Decision application will help make you even more admissible to TCU than you already are!
How can I decide between Early Decision and Early Decision II?
Other than having a different deadline, Early Decision II is exactly the same as Early Decision. It’s an opportunity for students who heard about TCU later in the process or who weren’t able to apply Early Decision by Nov. 1 to still apply under that binding agreement if they would like. Ask your counselor if you have questions about which deadline might be best for you and your family.
We hope this information is helpful for you and that you feel more confident applying to college now! That said, please reach out to your admission counselor if you have any other questions. We’re here to help and want to make sure you have all the information you need! If you don’t know who your counselor is, you can find out here.