Buffalo received 200 early-decision applications last year and expects this year's total to be comparable.

In the case of early-decision applications, the student signs a pledge to attend if accepted.

Students can have only one early-decision application pending at any time, and once accepted, they must withdraw any regular applications.

It's not that Brad, a Syosset High School senior, will lose all hope of going to Cornell if the university turns down his early-decision application.

But Ana dropped the sport to focus on her first-semester grades and an early-decision application to the University of Pennsylvania.

A result is a far lower percentage of early-decision applications than at comparable schools: 30 percent in 2002, for instance, versus 75 percent at Trinity.

Such pressure has caused a huge increase in early-decision applications to top colleges.

But even with four guidance counselors working with the seniors, it would be virtually impossible for students to meet the Nov. 1 deadline for early-decision applications.

He sent a binding early-decision application to Haverford.

His early-decision application was accepted.