Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: Ivy Day is the day in late March when all eight Ivy League universities, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale, release Regular Decision results at the same time, usually in the evening Eastern time. Admitted students then have until early May to accept an offer.
The coming of spring marks more than just the changing of the seasons. As high school students have finished their college applications and are wrapping up their final year of high school, the top universities are also wrapping up their admissions reviews and sending out decisions to their applicants. For a particular group of college applicants, one day in late March matters most: Ivy Day.
What Is Ivy Day?
“Ivy Day” derives from the term “Ivy League,” a subset of the eight elite Northeastern US universities: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale. [1] These schools are considered some of the most prestigious in the United States, known for their competitive admissions processes, deep histories, and rigorous adherence to high academic standards. Ivy Day is when all eight of these schools release their admissions decisions simultaneously.
This is a momentous occasion for students as it will mark whether or not they have been accepted into their school of choice.
Ivy Day applies to Regular Decision applicants. Students who apply through Early Decision or Restrictive Early Action usually hear back much sooner, since those rounds have fall deadlines. Harvard, for example, notifies Restrictive Early Action applicants by mid-December. [2] If you were deferred from an early round, your final decision will typically arrive on Ivy Day along with the Regular Decision pool.
When and What Time Is Ivy Day?
Ivy Day falls in late March each year, and the Ivy League schools usually post decisions in the evening Eastern time. Each university confirms its exact release date and time to applicants directly.
Harvard, for example, lists the end of March as its Regular Decision notification date and early May as its reply deadline. [2] The day came about naturally over the decades and has since become an important day for students who’ve applied to Ivy League schools. So, while the exact day and time are subject to change, the expectation remains in late March for the Ivy League schools and many others besides.
A few days before Ivy Day, log in to each applicant portal to confirm that your username and password work and that your contact information is current. Many schools announce the exact release time by email or on the portal itself, so check your inbox, including your spam folder. If a portal is slow at release time, wait a few minutes and try again, since heavy traffic can delay the page. Plan to open your decisions somewhere quiet, with people you trust nearby. Charge your devices, keep the evening clear of other big commitments, and decide ahead of time whether you want to open every decision at once or one at a time.
If you applied to schools beyond the Ivy League, look up their release dates as well. Our list of Regular Decision notification dates can help you track when each school on your list plans to post results.
Why Is Ivy Day Important?
For students who have applied for Ivy League schools through Regular Decision, this will be the day they are notified whether or not they have been accepted into their chosen school or schools. This information alone is monumental, as it can mark one of the most critical milestones in a student’s academic career. Having the decision made simultaneously by multiple schools makes the day all the more remarkable. In addition to the schools releasing their choices, hundreds of thousands of students worldwide will check in to read those decisions, a shared experience for a large community of applicants, friends, and family.
However, Ivy Day can also be important for students who have not applied to Ivy League schools. The top eight schools will not be the only ones releasing their decisions on Ivy Day. While most schools have their own dates and policies on releasing decisions, many adhere to similar timelines and expected release dates. Students who have applied through regular decisions can expect most schools to release their decisions around springtime: mid-March to early April.
So, Ivy Day will be an essential milestone for students who applied to other schools to check in on their applications and see if their applied schools have released their decisions.
For many families, Ivy Day also starts a short decision window. Between late March and early May, admitted students attend events, revisit campuses, and weigh their options, so preparing your questions in advance makes those weeks far less stressful.
Each decision usually appears as a letter or status update in the school’s applicant portal. You will see one of three outcomes: an offer of admission, a place on the waitlist, or a denial. Some schools also post next steps, such as links to admitted student events or instructions for joining the waitlist, so read each update all the way through before you close the page.
What Should You Do for Ivy Day?
As the day draws near, keeping calm and managing your expectations is essential. While many students may have placed great importance on their applications, remember that acceptance or rejection at any particular school does not define a student’s worth. When the day comes, log in to the online portals of the schools you’ve applied to; you can check your results there.
Whether or not you get accepted into your top-choice schools, celebrate your achievements with your friends and family and express gratitude to those who aided you throughout your schooling. Many successful individuals have faced rejection and adversity throughout their path. So, whatever happens, be ready for the road ahead and know that this decision alone will not define you.
It also helps to set limits on social media that evening. Classmates and online forums will share results in real time, and comparing outcomes rarely makes the night easier. Share your news when you are ready, and be kind to friends whose results differ from yours.
What to Do After Ivy Day Decisions
Once your decisions are in, your next steps depend on the outcome at each school. Take a day to process the news before you make any choices.
If You Are Admitted
Congratulations! Revisit the reasons you applied to each school, then compare your offers carefully. Attend admitted student events, talk with current students, and look closely at academic programs, housing, and campus culture. Reply to the school you choose by its deadline, which at many colleges falls in early May, and decline your other offers so waitlisted students can take those spots.
If You Are Waitlisted
A waitlist decision means the school still sees you as a qualified candidate. Accept your spot if you remain interested, follow the school’s instructions for sending updates, and consider a short letter of continued interest with new achievements. At the same time, commit to another school by its reply deadline so you have a place in the fall. Waitlist movement varies from year to year and often continues into May or June. Our guide on what to do after college decisions walks through each step.
If You Are Denied
A denial is disappointing, but it reflects a highly selective process, not your worth or potential. Give yourself time, then turn your attention to the schools that admitted you. If you still hope to attend a particular university, you can explore transfer admission after a year or more of college, though transfer admission at Ivy League schools is highly selective. Many students find that the college they choose in April becomes exactly the right place for them.
What to Do for the Path Ahead?
Whether gaining acceptance to their choice school or not, many students will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the process of college admission has come to a close. But that being said, the work is still ongoing. Even if students have gotten accepted into their reach schools, a lot can still be done to better their chances at success in college.
For students who are still planning to apply for college, there’s a lot you can do as well to get a head start on your college career and increase your chances of acceptance at your top-choice school. To turn yourself into the ideal applicant for your top-choice college, InGenius Prep offers our Candidacy Building Program, tailor-made to help students achieve above and beyond for their academic careers. Don’t wait until your final year to start considering your application. Our team of Former Admissions Officers is ready to help you craft your student persona and create a solid candidacy ahead of your college applications.
If you have already committed to a college, finish your senior year with the same effort that earned your admission. Colleges review final transcripts, and a significant drop in grades can put an offer at risk.
If you are a younger student, the best time to prepare for your own Ivy Day is now. Focus on challenging coursework, a few activities you care about deeply, and a clear story of your interests. Start by optimizing your activities list for the Ivy League so your involvement is easy for admissions readers to understand.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Get a clear, honest read on which path actually fits your goals, and the specific next steps to build a competitive application. Click here to book your complimentary consultation.