<p>After reading a number of posts on this site and talking to my college counselor, I've come to the somewhat unnerving conclusion that applying early really doesn't give the highly qualified applicant (great test scores, great academics, average to great ECs - NO HOOKS, good recs, etc) any statistical advantage. </p>
<p>So if you're not a URM (under represented minority), legacy, or some HOOKed up applicant (not sissy hooks - a hardcore reputable national title and up), does applying early really increase one's statistical advantage of admission?</p>
<p>It actually does help. Very little, but it does help. You tell the college (ED) that you really really want to go and are willing to pay all the money to go. Colleges like that. ED also shows that you really love the college. If you have the stats for any Ivy, but apply to like Cornell ED, they will know they are getting a very strong applicant who wants to go to the school. If it was the RD round, Cornell may be wondering if this student, and others like him, are going to pick annother top school like Harvard instead, or a scholarship from a place like WashU.</p>