<p>Generally speaking, do any of the 'early applications' in particular yield a higher acceptance rate?
How do universities/admissions officers interpret your selection of EA of ED to their school?
And what is the best way to choose what school you ED and what school you EA? Any strategies?
Thanks!</p>
<p>If you know for dead certain that you will be able to afford your ED place, and that it is your absolute first choice to attend, go ahead and apply.</p>
<p>If you need financial aid and want to compare packages, then don’t apply anywhere ED. Stick with early action (EA), regular, and rolling admission institutions.</p>
<p>Statistically speaking, yes, early applications tend to have a much higher acceptance rate then regular applications. Colleges do view ED applications favorably because they like the applicant’s 100% commitment to their school, which is part of the reason why they yield higher acceptance rates (for some schools, the ED acceptance rate is as much as 3 or 4 times the RD rate). Happymomof1 is dead on about ED; it’s a big commitment, and if you aren’t sure where you want to go come October, don’t apply ED.</p>
<p>Whether you can compare offers depends on your situation and strategy.</p>
<p>DS applied early as a National Merit Semifinalist to Fordham, Northeastern and Columbia. He got full tuition offers from the first two and a financial aid package with the offer from Columbia. Columbia’s package was doable and about the same as the others.</p>
<p>Now, Columbia’s ED is binding, but they also say that you can turn it down if the family cannot afford it. We checked the probable costs beforehand with the NPC and had no surprise.</p>
<p>Harvard has it’s REA at 7 times it’s RD admission rate (21.3% to 3%) this year. EA or ED gives a good boost, don’t do ED unless you’re sure you want to and can afford to go there.</p>
<p>It is important to understand that the EA/ED numbers are swelled by athletic recruits, legacies and others w special status for admissions and that early applicants tend to be stronger on average compared to the RD applicants. It is debatable how much boost the average applicant will get by going early, and depends on the school. </p>
<p>^Agree. Even if H admits 21% of applicants during the SCEA round, no one is getting in that wouldn’t have been otherwise supremely competitive and a clear admit in the RD round. No one is “sneaking” by the admissions committee at HYPS.</p>
<p>Like VSGPeanut says, some other colleges may give a slightly better boost – but HYPS doesn’t have to.</p>
<p>One thing to remember is many EAs are restrictive (can only apply to one) and ED is definitely restricted to one school, so use that one card very carefully. Example, if you are a legacy at Dartmouth, but like Princeton just a bit more, would you want to throw away your hook at Dartmouth for Princeton? </p>