<li><p>How much are you in direct competition with people at your school? How about at your state?</p></li>
<li><p>Does EA help much? Admissions officers tend to say no, but my counselor says yes. Who’s right?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>uh anyone?</p>
<p>EA's good - shows you're keen, statistically higher chances and if/when you're deferred to regular it is recorded that you applied EA (ie you really do want to go there, and you're organized enough to sort it out early). Can't do you any harm, so you may as well.</p>
<p>As for competition, I think most Harvard-goers will probably say the usual 'there's no real competition between students, just with yourself'.</p>
<p>that's what they say, but harvard in my school for example only takes 1-2 kids every 3-4 years. for the 2006 fall entrance one person already got in, and as for my year fall entrnace 2007, i'm predicting 3 EA applicants. i really doubt harv's gonna take 2/3 even.</p>
<p>if you come from a competitve school, then they look at you compared with other applicants. as for state, they DEFINITELY compare you with other applicants.</p>