<p>I'm a rising senior and after visiting Northwestern, I have decided it's the college for me. I know it's the school I want to attend; I fell in love. Will applying early decision give me any additional chances of being accepted? I want to do everything I can to get admitted. I'm ranked #1 in my class out of about 200 and I have a 34 on the ACT. I'm involved in many extracurriculars as well.</p>
<p>Oh, yeah. Applying ED is the single most important thing you can do. At least doubles your chances; probably triples them.</p>
<p>Probably not. The reason why the ED pool has a higher admit rate is because of the strength of the pool.</p>
<p>IMHO, yes, ED does help your chances. Look at last year numbers to see how and why.
(These numbers are from what I recall - not actual numbers, so keep that in mind - but I think I’m pretty close). </p>
<p>Almost 50% of the admits from LY were ED. The ED pool was @ 2,500, the usual total freshman class is also @ 2,500. The Total Applicant Pool last year was @ 33,000. You can just look at these numbers and see that yes, ED is definitely the way to go!</p>
<p>So, if you have decided that NU is for you, apply ED.</p>
<p>ED helps an applicant IF his application is a strong one. (Think about it: they can admit strong applicants ED, knowing that the yield will be about 100%, but they couldn’t possibly accept all qualified applicants RD.)
You haven’t said anything about your transcript and ECs, but if your ACT and class standing are an indication, you will be a strong applicant. Under those circumstances, I agree that you will be boosting your chances by applying ED.</p>
<p>For Sure…</p>
<p>Yes, if you are a strong applicant. Somewhere between 35-40% of the freshmen class has been admitted ED recently, and statistically it looks like the acceptance rate in ED is about twice the rate in RD. Again, you must be a strong applicant. Your 34 on the ACT puts you in the 75% of enrolled first year students, and you can’t do much better than your class rank. :)</p>
<p>Not only did they take nearly 40% ED this year, but the President, in an Admissions Office release, indicated that they’re planning on upping that number. </p>
<p>Hey, wouldn’t you? It’s a yield machine!</p>
<p>I got in ED but i had a solid application with a boat load of AP’s, leadership positions, and a 35 ACT (36 superscored). But yeah, ED really helps. I knew alot of kids that earlied to ivies because they were cocky about getting into NU RD and when RD came around they all got rejected (lol). It’s getting tough</p>
<p>Yes it does!!! Go look on their website. They mentioned something about being highly appreciative or it will confer a great advantage in your app if you show interest in NU by applying early. (I can’t remember the exact words)
After the results of last year’s ED came out, there was an article about it. An admissions officer also mentioned that they really liked the students who have decided to not apply to the ivies and chose NU as the school their #1 choice. Or something along those lines. </p>
<p>What more evidence do you need!! If NU is your #1 choice apply ED 
admit rate for ED last year was 40% which is super high</p>
<p>ED also is the only way that legacy helps you, so I’m sure that that bumps up the rate too.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses. It’s obviously a stressful time for everyone no matter where they’re applying, and while the pressure’s still there, it’s nice to hear advice and positive words!</p>
<p>a common reply to the OP question is that ED is helpful if you have a strong app - exceed the act score mid 50, class rank , and have leadership positions. So can I take it that for an avg or less than strong app , ED will probably not have much of an influence? That is, it is wrong to say that the 33 pct admit rate (vs the 13.8 in RD) that it more than doubles an app’s chances?</p>
<p>I am talking of an app w/ 4.87 wtd/4 unwtd, class rank=3/314; some students go to good schools - sub chicago hs; ACT=30; tennis team; pretty good ec’s.</p>
<p>@idic5 – Keep in mind that if you apply ED you may still have time to submit updated ACT scores if you take it again in the fall.</p>
<p>^^teh act is given in sept something. ED dt at NU is 11-1, I think I’d have to ck is the results can be shot over to NU by that time.</p>
<p>So what is the upshot of this conversation - does ED increase chances for admission at NU for a an avg app , not a strong app? does it make an avg app a bit stronger than being in the RD pool?</p>
<p>It was said here that the ED pool has stronger apps than the RD pool. Why would someone with a stronger app (for NU) forswear the opportunity to go to other places? LEt’s assume for a moment that this person wd not have a particularly strong and unique attraction to NU.</p>
<p>NU RD admit rate=13.8
NU ED admit rate=33</p>
<p>I know our D was able to submit fall ACT scores after submitting her ED application and assume they improved her chances.</p>
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<p>The clear answer is that ED is for folks whose first choice school is Northwestern. This includes MANY kids who would be admitted to other top schools. Remember that NU is the #1 school in many fields, and in others it offers a unique combination of qualities that move it to the top of ED kids’ lists.</p>
<p>NU is my absolute top choice, but my GPA is a average for NU, and my ACT is middle 50 (hopefully rising by November!) I’m strong everywhere else, killer ECs, most challenging schedule in school, commitment to my major. Would ED be helpful to me? I would really like to communicate to NU that they are my absolute top choice, and would love the chance to calm down a little senior year.</p>
<p>Of course ED is helpful. It’s the single most helpful thing an applicant can do at ANY college, regardless of their qualifications. If you don’t get in someplace ED, you certainly wouldn’t get in RD.</p>
<p>I really don’t understand these questions.</p>