<p>Okay I know it's really late to be thinking about applying early, and I was so sure I wouldn't be applying early anywhere until today...</p>
<p>My dream school is Stanford, but with it's ridiculous admission rate, I of course don't EXPECT anything (I can only hope and dream and wish and pray). </p>
<p>My #2 is UPenn, which offers ED. The acceptance rate for ED is around double, DOUBLE, that of RD... however, my original reason for not applying early anywhere is that I'm not that satisfied with my junior year grades and wanted to redeem myself with 7th semester grades. I'm not sure whether applying early with the grades I have now will boost my chances over applying regular with a 4.0 in 7th semester.</p>
<p>I'm hesitant to give up Stanford (in the slim chance that they would take me) but I feel as if applying ED to UPenn would greatly increase my chances of getting into a top school. I mean.. getting accepted early to my #2 would be better than getting rejected from both my #1 and #2 when regular decisions come out.. right?</p>
<p>Please realize that typically schools listing much higher ED admission rates include the recruited athletes, legacies, developmental admits, and other hooked candidates in the the ED pool … so the admission rate for unhooked applicants is MUCH closer to the RD admission rates that it appears at first glance.</p>
<p>In addition, if you were my child I would always recommend giving your first choice option a crack … from my perspective the admit rates for both schools are very-very tough and certainly not different enough to warrant a strategy built around the difference … if you’re a viable candidate for Penn then you’re a viable candidate for Stanford … why not take a crack at your top choice school?</p>
<p>This is a tough question. I would still recommend applying EA to Stanford if it is really your first choice. You might regret it if you don’t. If you can get in to Penn ED, then you can get into Stanford EA, whether or not you do is another story, but I would take that chance.</p>