<p>Does applying ED really help your chances of being accepted?</p>
<p>After hearing people on CC and looking at the ED acceptance rates, I became convinced it did, but the adcoms at multiple schools have told me that the ED acceptance rates are only higher because the applicant pool is stronger.</p>
<p>Assuming that you are a strong competitive candidate (based on the the historic stats for the college) ED will help your chances. This is particularly the case for LACs.</p>
<p>applicant pool is stronger + recruited athletes + legacies - so, if you’re one of those, it’s in your best interest to apply ED. If you’re not among those, it won’t help you much.</p>
<p>At LACs, the higher rate is NOT because the applicant pool is stronger, it is due to the athletes. The “stronger applicant” line is adcom BS. I suspect that is the case everywhere.</p>
<p>Your chances ARE enhanced in the ED round, but you still have to have decent stats - ED doesn’t make up for that. Be inside the 25-75 band with your stats to have a fighting chance - those admits below the 25% line are usually kids with special circumstances, e.g. athletes, legacies, developmentals, URMs, other special talents.</p>
<p>Only apply Early Decision (ED) if you do not need to compare financial aid offers, as you must accept the ED offer if admitted and must withdraw all RD applications to other colleges. That’s quite different than applying Early Action (EA) where you don’t have to commit to a college if accepted until May 1st and can compare financial aid offers. See: <a href=“Facts About Applying Early Decision or Early Action – BigFuture”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/the-facts-about-applying-early-is-it-right-for-you</a></p>
<p>^ Must withdraw all applications (not just RD) when accepted to ED school. Very often, RDs are not even submitted when ED result is announced.</p>