<p>Miken-the study data adjusted when possible for "institutional priorities" including status as URM, alumni and recruited athletes. Full IP data was available for 3 of the 4 schools in the EA data base, so the UChi data probably (75% chance) reflects legacies and alumni preferences and adjusts for them, and, at any rate, all schools showed some level of advantage for EA/ED candidates. The data also adjusted for activities, HS quality, geography, AP classes and other factors. Even given the data gap, you are wrong to simply dismiss the data as BS.</p>
<p>There are two clear indisputable advantages to applying EA. 1). One does not need to wait until April for a decision ...unless one is deferred. 2) One gets first choice of dorms ...good, unless one finds their choice puts them with people they can't stand.</p>
<p>miken --</p>
<p>I think it depends on whether the "early" application is EA or ED. The report that's being quoted notes that very distinction on page 12 (where it references Tables 3a and 3b). In other words, ED applicants may have lower average scores, but EA applicants (which would include U of Chicago) seem to have higher scores than the RD pool.</p>
<p>Also -- ED does show commitment to the school, but EA doesn't. -- EA shows interest (since it does indicate that the applicant isn't applying ED to certain competing schools), but it doesn't guarantee commitment, since it's not binding.</p>
<p>And so many of the top schools are looking beyond scores.
And this study is a few years old, so who knows?</p>
<p>In other words, too many unknowns to draw firm and guiding conclusions, IMO, especially with an EA school. </p>
<p>I suspect a lot of students apply EA merely to get those apps out of the way :)</p>
<p>i hope there is not a big difference because I will be deferred most definitely</p>
<p>Right, I don't think that there is a noticable difference between EA and RD. I expect the adcoms also want to get some of thier work out of the way too. ;)</p>
<p>Do you believe Princeton and Harvard when they say applying Early does not give you an advantage? I do.</p>
<p>In response to a comment made by another poster, I think mediocre writing is OK as long as the applicant has imagination and passion.</p>
<p>Well, except Princeton fills half their freshman class with ED applicants, so there's got to be some advantage there... but I almost don't count HYPS as "real" colleges anymore; they've gotten pretty wacked out since about a million people apply.</p>
<p>I think EA applicants have a higher marticulation rate. If you get into Chicago, chances are you will stop applying to other colleges because who wants to waste the time when they are in Chicago.</p>
<p>True That.</p>