<p>Hello! :D</p>
<p>Do people usually save their "early decision" app for reach schools? If not, what is the tactic used when deciding which school to use ED on, other than the obvious e.g. it is your favorite school.</p>
<p>Thank you :)</p>
<p>bump, i would also really like to know why!</p>
<p>I am applying ED to Northwestern- my favorite, and it also increases acceptances from 12% total to about 33% early
If that doesn’t work out, I’m applying ED 2 to my close-second school, Carleton, which cannot be more different from Northwestern- big/small, city/middle of nowhere, university/liberal arts college
I can’t decide, so I’m letting them decide for me</p>
<p>what if the college I’m applying to (Cal Poly) has a 22% acceptance for ED and a higher rate of 30% for RD? that’s what is puzzling me a lot</p>
<p>lol ok so I will interpret these responses as a “yes, most people apply ED to reaches because it increases their chances”</p>
<p>thanks C:</p>
<p>No, most people apply ED because they have decided on their first choice school. It is a bad idea to try to “use” one’s ED to try to increase chances of admission.</p>
<p>First of all, there is considerable evidence, in addition to the forthright statements of numerous adcoms, that a higher admission rate during ED is a reflection of a higher quality pool of applicants, NOT relaxed standards. The Cal Poly example listed above is only one instance of this.</p>
<p>Second, the ED pool at highly selective schools is filled with applicants who have been passionate about attending that institution for years. They include legacies who have dreamed of attending since they were toddlers. They include children of large donors who have been wined and dined at the best facilities on campus. They include recruited athletes who have been repeatedly shown the personalized advantages of the school. The applications, especially the essays, of these students will reflect the extreme passion of a true first choice shool. Someone who is simply trying to gain an advantage will pale by comparison.</p>
<p>Third, the ED pool is much smaller numerically than the RD pool. It is far easier for adcoms to identify shortcomings in applications when they have a comparatively larger period of time to review each applicant.</p>
<p>There is a reason for the obvious answer to OP’s question - it is the correct answer (what is the answer to 2 + 2, other than the obvious 4?). Apply ED only if the school is your clear first choice.</p>
<p>Another thing is that ED is very self-selecting, nobody applies ED unless they are in LOVE with the school. Speaking from personal experience (a future ED applicant for this upcoming admissions season) I have read every blog and Facebook post made by this school, visited the school twice (soon to be three times), talked to every person I know who attends or is familiar with the school, spoken with several admissions people and basically stalked the school. ED technically increases your chance, but not really since it is such a different applicant pool.</p>
<p>^where are you applying ED, if you don’t mind me asking</p>
<p>Swarthmore</p>
<p>@ArtsyGirl13
I am obsessed with a school too. ugh can’t even stop googling it, imagining myself attending it, thinking about it before bed, dreaming/having nightmares about it, planning what I would say at the interview 
which heightens my fear of being rejected by it</p>
<p>try doing some research looking at gpa/sat stats on your Naviance site to figure out what kind of scores got prior year students into your ED schools.</p>