But admissions officials from schools with early decision policies said that their schools attract applicants who are even more enthusiastic about attending.
"To my knowledge there has been no talk of change in our policy," said Thomas Masse, a Yale admissions officer. "Last year our yield was the highest in our history, and we don't expect that to change."
Maria Laskaris, a Dartmouth admissions officer, said that Dartmouth is also confident in its policy.
"Our program makes sense," she said. "We are looking for students who are ready to make a commitment. [Our program] is for students who are clear about where they want to go."
Fitzsimmons stressed that the decision was not a monumental one.
"There are many people who won't receive [the new policy] as news," he said. "In the end I think we will end up with the same class as if we hadn't changed it.