Cambridge, Mass. ? Harvard University said it will not admit freshmen who have made early decision commitments to other schools, a practice that could have become a source of tension with its competitors.

Because Harvard’s own early decision program is nonbinding, it can no longer prevent students from applying early to other universities under rules adopted this spring by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, of which Harvard is a member.

For that reason, Harvard had been considering enrolling students who applied early to schools that had a binding agreement to enroll if accepted.

Although Harvard can no longer prevent students from submitting applications and being admitted elsewhere, it will discourage them from doing so and rescind their admission if a break in the early decision agreement is found, said William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions for Harvard College.

“We were concerned about students applying to lots of places early, swelling the numbers and taking attention away from others who haven’t made a commitment to go elsewhere, who could actually go to Harvard,” Fitzsimmons told The Boston Globe.

More than half of Harvard’s freshmen are admitted before the regular Jan. 1 deadline.