Early Action Hope or Death

<p>Is applying to colleges early better even though competition is higher?</p>

<p>My brother and his friend both applied to Northeastern and my brother had 85 avg 1900's SAT his friend applied with 82 avg and same SAT.</p>

<p>Difference was his friend applied early and my brother didn't, the result was that his friend got in and he didn't.</p>

<p>Now most colleges say competition is higher in EA but this contradicts that...My brother also said that most extracurriculars don't matter unless you are the captain or so.</p>

<p>What is the truth?</p>