Yes, UMich just began reading all EA apps in 2017-2018 admissions cycle. 8-| Nice try. =;
I never said UMich is perfect organization. There aren’t any. You may have your “blanket statement” and I’ll stick to mine. 
If there are so many more applications being submitted during EA, would it be more advantageous for me to hold off until RD to submit?
It’s contrary to what I know. I know of quite a few students admitted in the early round in the past few years even though they applied practically around the EA deadline. If admissions left out a large portion of EA applications unread, how did they jump the queue?
Let’s do the math. Take the case of 2014. With 25,000 EA applications and 50 readers+50 counselors, each reader/counselor pair had 500 EA applications and about 50 days (between Nov 1-Dec 20) to read them. That’s about 10 applications per day. Doesn’t sound too formidable, does it?
I know admissions had problem the first year Michigan adopted EA as they were caught unprepared. I’d presumed they’ve staffed up since.
If you are stressed over Michigan deferring a large portion of EA applicants, don’t apply to Georgetown. Georgetown defers everyone of the REA applicants not admitted in the early round.
I applied EA, was deferred, and didn’t hear back until late May. Fortunately, I was accepted and Michigan has been really great so far. I was one of those people complaining about the long waiting time for an admission decision after being deferred, but it worked out in the long run.
Do you know for a fact they read them in order of receipt?
I think the theory is to apply EA to most schools and the thinking is there is a higher admission rate during this time. Reality might be different though. You can always email your regional counselor from Michigan and simply ask. Unless your sending in later Act/Sat scores I don’t see any advantage to waiting. My son applied RD (we thought he applied EA) and was accepted first week of January. Some didn’t hear back till May as stated.
My OOS kid applied EA at the deadline and was admitted.
To say that UMich, one of the most well-funded universities in the US, better funded than UCB or UCLA added together, doesn’t read ALL their EA applications and just defers everybody is ridiculous. Which “stack” do you leave unread? It’s not like a well-run well-funded national university with a great world reputation can manage to read 40,000 EA apps from November 1 to December 20th.
http://obp.umich.edu/michigan-almanac/
This is like the holy grail for Michigan. I am sorry but don’t have time now but your answer might be in here.
The real advantage is to apply early and not wait till the EA deadline. The adcoms can spend more time reading your application.