<p>Rice's website lists the ED acceptance rate at 25%, and regular decision at 16%. 9% is fairly significant in this case.</p>
<p>Do you know if Rice prefers ED applicants purely because of ED, or is it just that there are better, more qualified students applying ED because of their confidence that they can get in? I personally believe the quality of applicant rises with Early Decision.</p>
<p>The answer to your questions is “yes”.</p>
<p>ED is a 100% commitment to a school. And yes, the quality of applicants tends to be better in the early pool. Applying early also portrays that the applicant is on the ball and able to get things done timely. </p>
<p>A lot of well qualified applicants though are afraid of making a 100% commitment, and with their stats, they will have lots of options available to them, so don’t apply early.</p>
<p>There’s totally an advantage to applying ED. If I hadn’t applied ED, I question whether or not I would’ve gotten into Rice. Everyone’s stats are amazing, everyone’s extra-curriculars are phenomenal, everyone’s essays are probably pretty awesome. Anything that can set you apart is a plus, and ED shows committment and loyalty to Rice. Now, if Rice isn’t your first pick, maybe I’d shy away from ED, but if it’s at the top of your list, apply ED for sure!</p>
<p>Most of the time, it’s an advantage to apply early.</p>
<p>I don’t want to indirectly make this a chance thread, but would you rather do ED to a reach school (like Rice) or an inbetween reach and match school (like Richmond, who has a 30% acceptance rate).</p>
<p>I am somewhat confident in my resume, just the thought of putting so much on the line with Early decision as it is usually binding doesn’t seem worth it. I would rather not take my chances and have a great chance of getting into Richmond rather than a still somewhat mediocre chance of getting into Rice.</p>
<p>I agree that ED is not worth it (or appropriate) at a school that is not your by-far number one favorite. But when there is that one school you would love to attend if you can afford it, ED can make sense. If you get an ED FA offer that is insufficient to support attendance, you decline the offer and apply elsewhere RD.</p>
<p>Rice is tied for other schools as my favorite, and money isn’t an issue, I am just debating whether an ED application is worth more for a school with a 20%, or 35% acceptance rate, it’s all about getting in regarding this issue.</p>
<p>You have time to evaluate your list of schools and personal interests for your education before application time. See then if there is an obvious choice for ED/EA.</p>
<p>But, if you believe you are a competitive student and would attend the school, then yes, it could be to your advantage to apply ED/EA. If you don’t truly plan to attend or you want to see what other acceptances you might receive, then do not apply ED. ED means making a commitment.</p>