Applications to Brown University’s binding early decision program decreased 4.5 percent compared to 2007. This year, 2,343 students applied early to Brown, fewer than the 2,453 who applied last year, the university’s office of media relations confirmed Wednesday. So far, Brown, Yale and Dartmouth College are the only Ivy League schools to release this year’s early application numbers. Of the three, only Brown witnessed a decrease in applications. The decrease in total applications can be largely attributed to an 80-application drop in its eight-year joint program with the college and medical school, Brown’s Dean of Admissions Jim Miller told the Brown Daily Herald.