<p>This is a really stupid question, but I was wondering what the differences and advantages/disadvantages were for EA vs. RD! I still have no clue! :-D So I know that EA means you submit your application in early, and you submit RD in later, but what does it mean when you get deferred? Do you have to reapply? (Do/Can) you do another interview? As much info as possible would be GREATLY appreciated.</p>
<p>Ideally, EA is a great way for people who know where they want to go for sure to finish up the college application process nice and early. Most colleges will get back to EA/ED applicants by early-mid December. After that, applicants don't need to apply anywhere else, which saves money on application fees, or they'll withdraw their outstanding applications, or leave them if they applied EA but are not sure of where they really want to go. If you know you want to go to MIT for sure and you apply EA and get in, you're totally done (of course, you can apply EA/RD anywhere else as well, if you want to). </p>
<p>If you get deferred, you do not need to submit a new application and you do not need to do another interview, and your application will be reviewed again with the RD applicants. You still stand a chance of getting in. Many students choose to send "updates" to admissions offices to let colleges know what they've been up to (awards, competitions, etc.) since they initially applied so they can be more competitive in the regular decision pool. Colleges' official position on sending these updates vary, I haven't heard of any that REQUIRE them but I believe brief, to-the-point updates are welcomed by most colleges. I sent mine via e-mail. There is no requirement to do another interview if you are deferred, but I suppose if you never did an interview in the first place, or if an alum contacts you for an alum interview or something, I guess that could be added to your file after you have been deferred. </p>
<p>Many students choose to apply EA/ED because EA/ED acceptance rates are often higher. However, EA/ED applicant pools may tend to be more self-selecting as well, so it doesn't necessarily mean the competition is any less fierce than RD. MIT got a record number of EA applicants this year, so we'll have to wait and see how the numbers turn out. Officially, students are evaluated on the exact same criteria for EA/ED and RD. Unofficially, who knows? An admission officer simply being less stressed out in the EA season than in the RD season could mean an admissions advantage to you.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I have a couple more questions! If you get rejected, can you not be accepted in RD? Or does it simply mean that you must reapply? If you get wait listed, what exactly does this mean?</p>
<ol>
<li>if you are rejected, you cannot be accepted in RD and cannot reapply for that admissions year</li>
<li>If enough of the acceptants decide to attend another school, spots open up for applicants placed on the waitlist. Basically if you're on that list, your chances of going to that school depend on other people's decisions to attend that school or to attend another school. Make sense? Mightve been a bit unclear...</li>
</ol>