Early Decision (ed): Nothing But A "cop Out"????

Applying to College
1

<p>unless u plan on applying to only 3 schools or less, it seems that ppl apply for ED only because they are afraid of rejection. they would rather get a "fast acceptance" than deal w/ later rejections. also, there isn't much of a positive to the process. when looking at/applying for 5-15 schools, EARLY ACTION seems like the best way to go. especially if you are looking for the best need based or merit based scholarship offer.</p>

<p>1) would you apply ED or EA?
2) why do you think it is best?
3) what is/was your personal reason for choosing your course of action?</p>

2

<p>if you love a school and apply ED< why is that a copout?</p>

<p>for many it is not about rejection, but about love of a certain school</p>

3

<p>ye, especially since ED acceptances rates are usually much greater than RD ones. PLus, it takes away a TON of work that you would otherwise have put into RD apps. as for your questions</p>

<ol>
<li>yes</li>
<li>only 1 app, higher acceptance rate, i know it's my number 1 choice</li>
<li>^</li>
</ol>

4

<p>1) would you apply ED or EA?
2) why do you think it is best?
3) what is/was your personal reason for choosing your course of action?</p>

<ol>
<li>I would not apply ED, because of the you would HAVE to attend the school, and money would be an important factor in my decision. I would apply EA because you do not have to attend the school if accepted, and you know early whether you are accepted or not.</li>
<li>Applying to one or some schools EA would be a good choice because you if you got in to schools that you liked, then you could relax a little more 2nd semester.</li>
<li>I would apply to probably 2 schools EA so that if I was accepted, I could find out early, but I would also apply to several schools RD. I like EA because you find out early and you don't have to attend the school if accepted.</li>
</ol>

5

<p>thanks for both posts^^^ i agree w/ the two methods and reasoning.</p>

6

<p>If you only have one top choice, apply ED.</p>

7

<p>If you have the $$$ and you have decided on your # 1 choice for a school, a person would be foolish NOT to apply ED.</p>

8

<p>if you are having an extremely challenging curriculum your senior yr and really want the colleges you're applying to, to be able to see them, is EA a good choice? What Ivy Leagues have EA?</p>

9

<p>No ivy league schools have EA.</p>

10

<p>What about Yale's SCEA?</p>

11

<p>^^Yeah, you're right...I tried to edit my post above, but it said that "I didn't have permission." Yale does have SCEA--single choice early action.</p>

12

<p>Is it always a good idea to apply SCEA? I read in this forum that only if you have a strong application, is this true?</p>

13

<p>You will only get into Yale with a very strong application regardless of when you apply, so if Yale is your first choice and you want to get your decision fast, go SCEA.</p>

14

<ol>
<li>I did apply ED to Princeton.</li>
<li>I think it is best because it gives statistically a greater advantage than EA. For example, check out MIT's early admittance and regular admittance rates. Both are very similar and extremely low. Princeton, however, had an early rate of acceptance in the upper 20s, about 20% above the regular rate. Also, Princeton accepts almost half of its class from the early pool, so regular applicants are competing for half the spots. I realize that Princeton no longer offers this program, but the statistics are generally true for other ED schools. Also, my decision was very dependent on money, but I took a gamble with the school that has the best aid program in the country. It paid off.</li>
<li>Knowing where you are going to college before Christmas is greatly satisfying. I was not impatient. It came down to a few schools I could see myself at and I pretty much picked one and applied ED there. This was not an ignorant decision. I did my homework about all the schools I was interested in, estimated potential financial aid packages, and went with the school I knew I wouldn't be upset to be "stuck" at under an ED agreement.
I hope this helps.
Whatever you do, apply early somewhere, regardless of the program offered. It will give you some advantage almost every time.</li>
</ol>

15

<p>If you love a school and know its the only place you'd want to go why not apply ED and get the process over with by Christmas?</p>

16

<p>
[quote]

If you love a school and know its the only place you'd want to go why not apply ED and get the process over with by Christmas?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I agree.</p>

<p>The possibility of not having to suffer judgment days in April was the whole point of early decision to begin with.</p>

17

<p>for me it was more about peace of mind. Early Decision ensured that I would have my college decision made way in advance of other students, thus allowing me to relax for most of my senior year.</p>

<p>btw, i applied and got accepted early to Cornell University.</p>

18

<p>OP: your post really makes no sense. Applying to a school ED says to a school, "I love your school, pick me!" EA says, "I love ostensibly higher admit rates; it'd be great if you picked me." Of course legacy status, sports, etc. speak a completely different language when it comes to the early admissions process.</p>

19

<p>Unless you find waiting longer to admission decisions and filling out college applications fun, I fail to comprehend how you don't see the advantages with ED.</p>

20

<p>It's EASIER to get in ED at many universities. If it so happens that you really like one of these ED places, then it would make sense to strategize and apply through that process.</p>