But Fitzsimmons added that his office is aware that not all students are well suited to apply early, and the the admissions office will be prudent in extending admissions offers to students given the limited number of beds for the freshman class.

“One size does not fit all,” Fitzsimmons said.

Last year, the admissions office sent acceptance letters to 18 percent of the 4,228 early action applicants. These students were the first group of early applicants to be admitted after the College discontinued the early action program for a four-year period.

Last year, the overall acceptance rate fell to a record low 5.9 percent, with the rate for those considered under regular decision, including early applicants deferred to regular decision, sitting at a miniscule 3.8 percent.

Fitzsimmons said the admissions office ultimately admitted about 100 students who had been deferred from early admission last year, either during the regular decision round or from the waitlist.

The admissions office will notify students of their early admissions decisions this year by Dec. 13.

—Staff writer Elizabeth S. Auritt can be reached at eauritt@college.harvard.edu.