<p>Hi--just wondered if anyone knew whether chosing early admission (non-binding) would help a student w/admission? I know (from people generously sharing info on another thread) that the admission response time from the student is the same and that sometimes EA rejects are put in the RD pile (but, not always).</p>
<p>Son is just about to do early action for Stony Brook (NY) but then I wondered if he would be putting himself at a disadvantage?</p>
<p>His stats are all right, but not a slam-dunk (high ACT, mid-level uw gpa--higher weighted gpa, not a ton of ECs, but [he's been told] good essays).</p>
<p>Basically looking for an admission tip via the EA, although the early news would be nice. Not sure if that's the route to go, though. He's going to submit a few apps today/tomorrow so just curious.</p>
<p>The main advantage of EA is the "early news". (Even if the news are bad, as sometimes it is a wake-up call that signals to the student that they had wrong expectations when it is not too late to change the strategy and add less competitive schools.)</p>
<p>That said EA does not generally give a "boost", and it is much more beneficial to have a strong application, than to have an early one (rolling admissions schools are an exception to this rule).</p>
<p>My daughter is applying to a bunch of SUNYs; my impression is that early action can't hurt you; if he isn't admitted he'll probably be considered RD. Ask on the SUNY Stony Brook forum though; Chris the admissions officer posts regularly!</p>
<p>A lot of the public schools we were at stressed the importance of applying early; sometimes a school might characterize itself as "Early Action" but it is more like rolling.</p>
<p>The only disadvantage I see to EA (in schools that don't indicate a lower EA acceptance rate) is that decisions can be made before midterm grades are available and some students may present a stronger app if the grades are included showing a continued upward trend. I think if a kid is pretty consistent or a probable match, EA is the way to go.</p>
<p>For some schools EA does have definite higher acceptance rates. The University of Miami is an example.<br>
UM Acceptance rates
ED- 27%
EA- 54%
RD- 30%</p>
<p>my-3-sons, I agree that many schools have higher rates of acceptance in the EA round. Is this because the EA applicant on average has higher stats than those applying RD? I don't know, but I throw that out as an explanation.</p>
<p>Jolynne, look at the other thread too. I just posted about this over there.</p>
<p>Sometimes the biggest advantage is if a student doesn't get immediate good news--a deferral or even denial gives a student an early warning to cast the net a bit wider</p>
<p>NEM-I posted on the other thread that I, too, think it partly has something to do with more organized, higher stat kids submitting apps earlier.</p>
<p>my3sons, I agree. I added this on the other thread, and will here as well, that early interest might have some influence on a decision as well, but I do not have anything in black and white to back this up. Anyway, as boysx3 suggests, at least you will know where you stand and you have time to cast a wider net.</p>
<p>my3sons, I posted on this thread, but thanks for the link to sb's:</p>
<p>NEM-I had post #64 on that thread. Great minds must think alike. ;)</p>
<p>Jolynne-I generally think any time an app is being submitted prior to the EA cutoff date you should classify it as EA. If you were waiting for more info to make the app stronger (new test scores, grades) then I would make the app RD and submit it after the additional info is rec'd. </p>
<p>Since your S's app ready to be submitted today, you have nothing to lose making it EA. Try to relax, quality trumps timing. Good luck to your S.</p>
<p>Thank you all for that great information! I will check out the links, appreciate the helpful responses.</p>
<p>As it turned out, I asked son to do his Stony Brook application a half hour ago. He insisted, absolutely, that he did not want EA (for whatever reason), and switched it back to rolling. From things said here, that might actually be to his advantage. His gpa has taken an incredibly sharp upward turn (almost all As junior year, after a quite bad, 'not doing homework' sophmore year). So, sending along his 1st marking period senior grades would likely help him, if they haven't already made a decision via the rolling admission process (to show the jr year grades weren't a fluke). </p>
<p>Again, appreciate the help!</p>
<p>PS Just checked out the Stony Brook discussion board link--very informative!</p>